Another giant US company is looking to expand into gaming claims report

As I sat in my living room, surrounded by the hum of consoles and the glow of screens, I couldn't help but think about the state of the video game industry. Between mass layoffs, the component crisis, and skyrocketing development costs, it's a sector in turmoil. But amidst the chaos, a new player is emerging: NBCUniversal, the media conglomerate behind Minions and streaming service Peacock.

According to a report by Reuters, NBCUniversal is eyeing opportunities in digital gaming, as the company assesses its options for future growth. This comes after its planned spin-off from Comcast, into a separate media business. Gaming is apparently amongst a broad range of options the company is considering, and there's no indication of how they would enter the industry, but it's likely to involve a similar process of buying up existing games companies and then.. Well, we'll just have to wait and see.

NBCUniversal is a behemoth of entertainment, named after its biggest divisions: the NBC TV network and film studio Universal Pictures. Together, they own the Universal theme parks, streaming service Peacock, as well as film studios like Illumination (Minions, The Super Mario Galaxy Movie) and Dreamworks (Shrek, How To Train Your Dragon). The company's worth is difficult to gauge, as it's been owned by Comcast since 2011, but the acquisition deal at that time valued the company at nearly $40 billion (£30.2 billion).

While that's smaller than EA ($51 billion/£38 billion) and Take-Two Interactive ($46 billion/£34.4 billion), it's certainly not a small business either. NBCUniversal could leverage its Peacock streaming service to include games, much like Netflix, or set up internal development studios, if not outright buy existing ones. According to Reuters, Comcast has previously considered acquiring the likes of Activision Blizzard (which was snapped up by Microsoft) and EA (which is in the process of being bought out), or investing in Fortnite company Epic Games. What does this mean for the video game industry? Will NBCUniversal's entry be a boon or a burden?## The Consequences of Conglomerate Expansion

As NBCUniversal considers its options, the video game industry has been increasingly monopolised over recent years, by a small handful of companies, with the likes of Embracer and Microsoft hoovering up studios and shutting them down in catastrophic fashion. The industry's been plagued by mass layoffs, and the component crisis has left many developers scrambling to keep up.

The arrival of a new player like NBCUniversal could either exacerbate the problem or provide a much-needed injection of fresh blood. If they follow the same playbook as other conglomerates, buying up existing studios and then struggling to integrate them, it could be a recipe for disaster. But if they manage to innovate and bring a new perspective to the industry, it could be a turning point.

As Michael Cavanagh takes charge of NBCUniversal post-split, it's unclear if he's similarly interested in investments like Activision Blizzard or Epic Games. While it's impossible to predict the future, one thing's for sure: NBCUniversal's entry into the gaming industry will be closely watched.

The company's got a proven track record in the entertainment space, and if they can bring that same level of expertise to the video game industry, it could be an effective mix. But as we've seen time and time again, the video game industry is a tough nut to crack, and it's going to take more than just money to succeed.

As I finished writing this article, I couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, NBCUniversal's entry into the gaming industry will be a breath of fresh air.