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Microsoft / Activision Deal Approval Watch |OT| (MS/ABK close)

Do you believe the deal will be approved?


  • Total voters
    886
  • Poll closed .
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mansoor1980

Gold Member
How is the face shopped on better than the fake box in the hand lol
FpgEXkOX0AIBNz2
 

IFireflyl

Gold Member
I think the wording couldn't be anymore clearer, but some users are just stuck on semantics.


Exhibit A:

Clear cut communication that existing games will not be taken off of other platforms, and MS will honor the (timed) exclusivity of Deathloop/Ghostwire.


kQlPqKi.png




Exhibit B:

Future games will be released on platforms with game pass and other consoles will be taken on a case by case basis provided if they're willing to run MS's services. I think it's safe to say Sony won't want to run game pass on their console platforms.


gurHPQw.png




Exhibit C:

EU considered the possibility of MS making future Zenimax games exclusive and felt that it did not make a big difference , i-e it was under their review, it's not like they just flipped a coin and passed it. They did not anticipate/demand/request that MS will keep making all Zenimax games for other platforms in the future.


FqFo1UAXoAA22bD






---



This continuous childish need to try and assert that MS AND PHIL LIEEEEEEEEEEEED has gotten very old and stale now.

I have no incentive to withhold $10,000 from adamsapple adamsapple .

If I now say I'm not going to give you $10,000 then obviously my previous statement was a lie.
 

DForce

NaughtyDog Defense Force
Secondly, MS's communication on future games has been pretty clear from 2020, all of this is information EU had access to and as I mentioned above, the possibility of exclusive Zenimax games was in the docket during their review as well, no hoodwinking involved.

You don't even realize what you're posting. lol

Noticing the wording.

September 2020
They're going to make the decision on a case-by-case basis. This is a very vague statement.

And it goes even further.

Future decisions on whether to distribute ZeniMax games for other consoles will be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account player demand and sentiment. Factors that will inform Microsoft’s decision-making on future games include consumer demand and preference and the willingness of third parties to work with Microsoft to launch games for their devices

Taking into account player demand and sentiment? Do you really think he was being honest here? I'm sure pulling a game from PlayStation contradicts that statement.

But again, the statement is very vague.

Guess when the deal closes? March.

Microsoft closed the acquisition of ZeniMax on March 9, 2021.


March 9, 2021

See how both statements from March are no longer vague? They're just quoting their true intention AFTER the deal closed. There's a reason WHY they weren't this CLEAR BEFORE the deal closed.

Microsoft announced that two upcoming titles, Starfield and Redfall, will only be released on Xbox and PC, in line with statements it made upon the close of the ZeniMax transaction. Specifically, when the deal closed in March 2021, Xbox noted: “With the addition of the Bethesda creative teams, gamers should know that Xbox consoles, PC, and Game Pass will be the best place to experience new Bethesda games

Oh yes, after the deal closed, they were PERFECTLY clear on games being exclusive, something they didn't do BEFORE the deal closed.

There's a reason why they were vague before and this "Get the facts" PDF file you're quoting doesn't disprove the claims made by the regulators. They're basically saying, "We did say Case-by-case basis, too!"
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
**or PC

Plus on a game by game basis

Phil only lets FoxMcChief FoxMcChief tag back in on a case by case basis.



March 9, 2021

See how both statements from March are no longer vague? They're just quoting their true intention AFTER the deal closed. There's a reason WHY they weren't this CLEAR BEFORE the deal closed.


October 16th, 2020:

I don’t have to go ship those games on any other platform other than the platforms that we support in order to kind of make the deal work for us.

🤷‍♂️
 
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Ozriel

M$FT
You don't even realize what you're posting. lol

Noticing the wording.

September 2020
They're going to make the decision on a case-by-case basis. This is a very vague statement.

And it goes even further.



Taking into account player demand and sentiment? Do you really think he was being honest here? I'm sure pulling a game from PlayStation contradicts that statement.

But again, the statement is very vague.

Guess when the deal closes? March.




March 9, 2021

See how both statements from March are no longer vague? They're just quoting their true intention AFTER the deal closed. There's a reason WHY they weren't this CLEAR BEFORE the deal closed.



Oh yes, after the deal closed, they were PERFECTLY clear on games being exclusive, something they didn't do BEFORE the deal closed.

There's a reason why they were vague before and this "Get the facts" PDF file you're quoting doesn't disprove the claims made by the regulators. They're basically saying, "We did say Case-by-case basis, too!"

You appear to be under the misconception that the September 2020 statements they made were to any regulatory body.

None of that counts as ‘promises’ made to you. The only promise they made was that they weren’t going to rip Bethesda games and communities off consoles where they already were. And they’ve kept that promise.
 

Portugeezer

Member
Microsoft lied... in a way which is not lying because they say things very deliberately.

If they say something to get the deal through, assume the opposite can happen at the flip of a switch.
 
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adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Microsoft lied... in a way which is not lying because they say things very deliberately.

If they say something to get the deal through, assume the opposite can happen at the flip of a switch.

If guaranteeing availability of Acti games like CoD is a key requirement of the deal passing through, they can't do 'the opposite at the flip of a switch'.

The regulatory bodies don't just stop regulating once the deal is approved.
 
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NickFire

Member
If guaranteeing availability of Acti games like CoD is a key requirement of the deal passing through, they can't do 'the opposite at the flip of a switch'.

The regulatory bodies don't just stop regulating once the deal is approved.
Haven't at least one or two of the bigger ones said they aren't in favor of behavioral remedies because they don't like the business of oversight?
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Haven't at least one or two of the bigger ones said they aren't in favor of behavioral remedies because they don't like the business of oversight?

I think they're all open to remedial discussions at this point to see what favorable outcomes can be obtained that might satisfy the regulatory concerns.

In-fact, on that note:

FqJkQBpWABEs-Gb
 
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DForce

NaughtyDog Defense Force
Phil only lets FoxMcChief FoxMcChief tag back in on a case by case basis.






October 16th, 2020:



🤷‍♂️

I can see why you didn't quote his entire statement.

Is it possible to recoup a $7.5 billion investment if you don’t sell Elder Scrolls VI on the PlayStation?” I asked.

“Yes,” Spencer quickly replied.

Then he paused.

“I don’t want to be flip about that,” he added. “This deal was not done to take games away from another player base like that. Nowhere in the documentation that we put together was: ‘How do we keep other players from playing these games?’ We want more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games. But I’ll also say in the model—I’m just answering directly the question that you had—when I think about where people are going to be playing and the number of devices that we had, and we have xCloud and PC and Game Pass and our console base, I don’t have to go ship those games on any other platform other than the platforms that we support in order to kind of make the deal work for us. Whatever that means.”

You don't really pay attention to the context.

He was asked if it was possible to recoup the $7.5b investment if ElderScrolls VI wasn't shipped on PlayStation.

Again, your quote doesn't refute anything I said. He said he doesn't have to ship games on any other platform, that's a standard statement because they're not obligated to.


This is why people don't trust Phil's words because he says a lot of BS.

This deal was not done to take games away from another player base like that. Nowhere in the documentation that we put together was: ‘How do we keep other players from playing these games?’ We want more people to be able to play games, not fewer people to be able to go play games.

Oh yes, they REALLY didn't make this move to take games from another player base. That's EXACTLY what they did. LOL
 

DForce

NaughtyDog Defense Force
You appear to be under the misconception that the September 2020 statements they made were to any regulatory body.
False.

None of that counts as ‘promises’ made to you. The only promise they made was that they weren’t going to rip Bethesda games and communities off consoles where they already were. And they’ve kept that promise.

That's not what the FTC and CMA reported.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Oh yes, they REALLY didn't make this move to take games from another player base..

They kept their commitment of honoring agreements for Deathloop/Ghostwire. They're continuing support for FO76, FO4, Skyrim with new updates/patches/content, and no existing game has been, or likely will be, taken off of any storefront it's on right now.

I'm glad we're seeing eye to eye here. There's been enough discussion of a 2 year old thing now, I'm gonna try and avoid getting into it again.
 
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NickFire

Member
I think they're all open to remedial discussions at this point to see what favorable outcomes can be obtained that might satisfy the regulatory concerns.

In-fact, on that note:

FqJkQBpWABEs-Gb
Hmmm. Somewhere in the past 500 pages the cancellation fee escalation dates was posted, even by myself at one point. I'm guessing, but not sure, that the new deadlines would be after the April escalation date. If my guess is correct, the extension would strike me as the EU playing chicken with MS, to see if they withdraw before EU has to actually make a decision.
 

DForce

NaughtyDog Defense Force
Correct. They kept their commitment of honoring agreements for Deathloop/Ghostwire. They're continuing support for FO76, FO4, Skyrim with new updates/patches/content, and no existing game has been, or likely will be, taken off of any storefront it's on right now.

I'm glad we're seeing eye to eye here.
He's talking about games. He doesn't separate existing and future games after he said, "Yes."

This is another damage control comment.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Hmmm. Somewhere in the past 500 pages the cancellation fee escalation dates was posted, even by myself at one point. I'm guessing, but not sure, that the new deadlines would be after the April escalation date. If my guess is correct, the extension would strike me as the EU playing chicken with MS, to see if they withdraw before EU has to actually make a decision.

Deets:

Reverse Termination Fee

If the merger agreement is terminated in specified circumstances, Microsoft has agreed to pay Activision Blizzard a reverse termination fee of (i) $2,000,000,000, if the termination notice is provided prior to January 18, 2023, (ii) $2,500,000,000, if the termination notice is provided after January 18, 2023 and prior to April 18, 2023 or (iii) $3,000,000,000, if the termination notice is provided after April 18, 2023.

Activision Blizzard will be entitled to receive the reverse termination fee from Microsoft if the merger agreement is terminated:

• by either Microsoft or Activision Blizzard due to (1) a permanent injunction or other judgment or order arising from antitrust laws having been issued by a court or other legal or regulatory restraint or prohibition arising from antitrust laws preventing the consummation of the merger being in effect, or any action having been taken by a governmental authority arising from antitrust laws that, in each case, prohibits, makes illegal or enjoins the consummation of the merger and that has become final and non-appealable; or (2) any statute, rule, regulation or order arising from antitrust laws having been enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the merger that prohibits, makes illegal or enjoins the consummation of the merger, except that this termination right will not be available if the terminating party’s material breach of any provision of the merger agreement is the primary cause of the failure of the merger to be consummated by the termination date; or


• by either Microsoft or Activision Blizzard if (1) the merger has not been consummated by the termination date, as may be extended pursuant to the merger agreement, except that this termination right is not available if the terminating party’s material breach of any provision of the merger agreement is the primary cause of the failure of the merger to be consummated by the termination date, and (2) all conditions to the merger agreement are satisfied (other than those conditions to be satisfied at the time of the closing of the merger, each of which is capable of being satisfied at closing) or waived (where permissible pursuant to applicable law), other than the regulatory conditions or injunction condition solely with respect to antitrust laws, except that in either case, Activision Blizzard is not then in material breach of any provision of the merger agreement (provided that any breach by Activision Blizzard that is the primary cause of the failure of any condition to the merger agreement to be satisfied is a material breach).
 
I am not so much talking about tomorrow per say but long term when it comes time to buy their next console
I agree with that. Making games as cheap as possible at launch of their next console will take market share away from competitors, there's no doubt about that.
Are you aware that there are millions of people that buy consoles for mostly just one game? FIFA, COD, GTA...etc. Or that buy consoles simply to play a particular game with their friends?
Yes I am. But I disagree with the idea that a group of people would ditch their console to chase the game. If a game they and their friends play is better on one console over the other, that will sway the purchasing decision, like at the start of generations. Once that purchase has been made the sunk cost fallacy hits in and people then believe that said game is not worth changing their purchase over.

TL;DR little jimmy isn't going to throw his PS5 away after 2 years to buy a series X to play with CoD, because his friends wouldn't swap either, they would find another game.

People can own multiple consoles at once. You don't have to "jump ship".
They can, very, very few do.

I think you underestimate how big of a selling point that'd be too. Why else would Sony have a deal to keep COD off gamepass?
Sony doesn't have a deal to keep COD off of gamepass.
 

Mr.Phoenix

Member
Yes I am. But I disagree with the idea that a group of people would ditch their console to chase the game. If a game they and their friends play is better on one console over the other, that will sway the purchasing decision, like at the start of generations. Once that purchase has been made the sunk cost fallacy hits in and people then believe that said game is not worth changing their purchase over.

TL;DR little jimmy isn't going to throw his PS5 away after 2 years to buy a series X to play with CoD, because his friends wouldn't swap either, they would find another game.


They can, very, very few do.


Sony doesn't have a deal to keep COD off of gamepass.
You are absolutely right. And MS knows that too. That, however, is why they tried to get this deal done before the PS5 even hit 20M sakes. That way, you aren't worrying about people switching anything. You are making sure that the people buying a current-gen console, buy yours instead.

I mean now you can even get an XSS for under $200.
 

PaintTinJr

Member
They kept their commitment of honoring agreements for Deathloop/Ghostwire. They're continuing support for FO76, FO4, Skyrim with new updates/patches/content, and no existing game has been, or likely will be, taken off of any storefront it's on right now.

I'm glad we're seeing eye to eye here. There's been enough discussion of a 2 year old thing now, I'm gonna try and avoid getting into it again.
That isn't a "commitment", they are legally binding contracts - probably with a tear ZeniMax (now MSFT) a new one breach of contract clauses. If they could have broken them without penalties, all bets are off if they would have broken those contracts.

Yesterday Phil was double speaking in just the same way, about increasing player counts, and could have appeared sincere by announcing they'd walked back their ZeniMax policy and were releasing all those in-development multi-platform games - prior to the acquisition - and releasing them everywhere - including PlayStation, just like Minecraft. Instead, the parent company that has spent close to $20B per year on marketing in recent years claims the exclusive are Marketing beats for platforms.

Even the nonsense about empowering developers while gamepass in future potentially takes all the rewards of their work for MSFT and turns them into production line developers, as gamepass becomes the gatekeeper of reaching users is just such rubbish. Cloud + consolidation will kill creativity, especially in the hands of people that let their corporate business objectives drown the natural games industry creativity of all the studios they buy to stop them having industry banger games - that drive console sales.
 
He's talking about games. He doesn't separate existing and future games after he said, "Yes."

This is another damage control comment.
You're really seeing a lot that isn't there.

Activision should just make a backdoor call to Sony. "Our future titles, outside of those already contracted, will not be on your console. We will announce XBOX and PC exclusivity at our showcase in June. You can deal with xbox, or you can deal with us." It's clear the shareholders want to make the deal, and the idea that it would be a monopoly is absurd.

And most of the lies and obfuscation i've seen have honestly come from Sony, not MS. The hypocrisy is incredible. They moneyhat games constantly to prevent them from going to MS, then cry when there's a POSSIBILITY microsoft might do the same.

Anyway, The FEC hasn't won a case in court in years, and this will be no different. MS will absolutely buy Activision.
 
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