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Microsoft / Activision Deal Approval Watch |OT| (MS/ABK close)
- Status
ChorizoPicozo
Gold Member
the FTC is making the worst arguments than even the lower IQ average Neogafer.
Silent Viper
Banned
MS lawyer asked Jim - Has MS not honoured any deal in past with PS or purposely released a broken or bad versions of their game on PS? He said NO. Then lawyers ask - what reason he has now to believe they will do it with CoD? On what basis he saying PS version will be bad or downgraded?. He said he has no reason to believe they will do it now? That gotta be a mic drop moment.
After that, He also downplayed his old email, by saying he couldn't understand what could happen and didn't grasp seriousness of the deal that time blah blah. i mean CEO of PS couldn't understand what will happen when MS buys ABK? He just lied shamelessly there :/
He also gave no answer to FF related questions and also to the question what he will do with CoD if it Sony acquired ABK? He just remain quiet and gave no answer to these 2 questions.
MS lawyers really made him sweat at the end looks like.
After that, He also downplayed his old email, by saying he couldn't understand what could happen and didn't grasp seriousness of the deal that time blah blah. i mean CEO of PS couldn't understand what will happen when MS buys ABK? He just lied shamelessly there :/
He also gave no answer to FF related questions and also to the question what he will do with CoD if it Sony acquired ABK? He just remain quiet and gave no answer to these 2 questions.
MS lawyers really made him sweat at the end looks like.
LiquidRex
Member
It's looking like this deal will go through now, and Microsoft will be able to force Sony out by default within the next 10 years, Sony's argument's weren't strong enough in the FTC hearing, Jim Ryan has failed imo.
Microsoft will have the ability to buy up more, they'll get more pushback but it won't matter... This deal will make third party studios weaker and be forced to join the Microsoft eco system because there won't be anywhere else to go in the long run.
Microsoft will have the ability to buy up more, they'll get more pushback but it won't matter... This deal will make third party studios weaker and be forced to join the Microsoft eco system because there won't be anywhere else to go in the long run.
ChorizoPicozo
Gold Member
it was just a thought experiment.MS lawyer asked Jim - Has MS not honoured any deal in past with PS or purposely released a broken or bad versions of their game on PS? He said NO. Then lawyers ask - what reason he has now to believe they will do it with CoD? On what basis he saying PS version will be bad or downgraded?. He said he has no reason to believe they will do it now? That gotta be a mic drop moment.
After that, He also downplayed his old email, by saying he couldn't understand what could happen and didn't grasp seriousness of the deal that time blah blah. i mean CEO of PS couldn't understand what will happen when MS buys ABK? He just lied shamelessly there :/
He also gave no answer to FF related questions and also to the question what he will do with CoD if it Sony acquired ABK? He just remain quiet and gave no answer to these 2 questions.
MS lawyers really made him sweat at the end looks like.
James Sawyer Ford
Member
On what grounds?
It’s blocked by the CMA
This court appearance by the FTC is mere entertainment at this point. It doesn’t change the UK’s stance
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supernova8
Banned
Personally I think the deal (if it goes through) should have some sort of stipulation enforced by the regulators along the lines of "if you don't properly make use of your existing studios (which would include ActiBliz by then) you're not acquiring any more studoios/publishers".
Reason I say that is because it just feels like Microsoft bought a bunch of developers, doesn't have all that much to show for it, and now wants to buy more. Also I don't see how acquiring ActiBliz would provide gamers with tangible benefits beyond their titles being on Game Pass. Specifically, I'm saying I don't see how Microsoft owning Activision Blizzard will lead to them making better games. It's not like ActiBliz can't fund their own games (same applies to Zenimax to be honest, I still don't understand what we gain from Microsoft buying them beyond their stuff going on Game Pass.
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Silent Viper
Banned
They will close it everywhere and figure something else for UK. They will just make ABK separate entity for UK.
They were considering it that's why FTC went to court for injunction.
The Pleasure
Member
They're hooked on a FEELING.
ToadMan
Member
And 20 days for them to amend the suit.
Difficult to see how the judge would give the FTC less time than that to appeal and the restraining order remains in place until that time elapses.
That would take us past 18 July…
So we are going into extra time.
Bobby K - over to you
01011001
Banned
LiquidRex
Member
The CMA will be bypassed via a loophole be it a new company to allow them to practice in the UK, it will be costly but that cost won't be any way near the loss of being out of the UK altogether.
bender
What time is it?
drganon
Gold Member
ArcaneNLSC
Member
Unknown Soldier
Member
It would be cheaper for MS to buy Russia and then have Putin invade the UK TBHMicrosoft will just buy the UK.
mrmustard
Banned
I don't think so and i'm very curious what MS's next moves are when the deals fail. I would laugh my ass off if they said fuck this shit we are selling everything and stop making consoles.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
"Shakka43"I'm gonna call your name out when I finish. Thank you.
"Shakk43!"
"SHAKKA43!!!!"
James Sawyer Ford
Member
Meta tried doing that with giphy, didn’t turn out well for them with that bold move cotton
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Embearded
Member
You don't see how Activision provides tangible benefits because there is nothing to see there.
Microsoft is in this position today, because they focused on GP and services before organic growth. Their first party titles before acquiring Zenimax were few and mainly the same IPs they have been publishing since 2 decades ago.
They have excellent hardware, but their software is nowhere to be found and they thought they could compete with GP but it isn't enough.
So their plan now is to get all big titles, make them exclusive and "force" the customers to come to their ecosystem.
Skipping organic growth though, means you are not getting proper feedback from the customers about your politics as a company. How they handle their studios, what gets greenlight and what gets cancelled.
They are trying to go endgame directly and the result could be negative for the studios/publishers they are acquiring.
For example, they just fired people from Zenimax, would that happen if they hadn't acquired them?
Its rare to acquire another company and not enforce the buyer's internal politics and or inherit their problems.
The only thing existing custmers win, is more day 1 games in GP. But that will also change in some way, either with price increases, budget decreases or less output. Microsoft is using fuck you money to eradicate competition, in the end the industry will lose.
Bernardougf
Gold Member
Damn is looking more and more like twitter here with this new insurgency of new posters and bad takes ...is about time for this shit show to end.
Edited, my original post wasn't clear enough (sorry)
Edited, my original post wasn't clear enough (sorry)
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
drganon
Gold Member
How so?
Bernardougf
Gold Member
The takes are getting worse and worse as new people that hadn't been following through join in the discussion
supernova8
Banned
I've given up on Twitter anyway WRT the acquisitions since it's pretty much all Xbox shills (seriously some of the "enthusiasm" seems ...sponsored?) patting each other on the back.
drganon
Gold Member
That's just Twitter in general. It's a hive of stupidity and bots.
supernova8
Banned
They don't seem to appreciate/care about the implications of allowing Microsoft to fail and then essentially bribe the referee in the form of buying up all the big publishers.
I don't care about COD at all (haven't done since Advanced Warfare with Kevin Spacey) and I think WoW is/was a case of "aint broke don't fix it" and Blizzard kept messing with it until it's become something I cannot even recognize anymore. No interest in Starcraft... faint passing interest in Diablo but not a dealbreaker.... so my issue is not with Microsoft specifically acquiring Activision. It's more the idea that it's not good for competition generally to let Microsoft do what it's doing.
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bitbydeath
Gold Member
If it were that easy then every acquisition would go through.
Varteras
Gold Member
CMA already saw through that. MS and ABK aren't even allowed to invest in each other by proxy. So they could section off ABK from the UK all they want. They would still be in violation of UK law, as MS itself would still operate in the UK. Their only option without being hauled into court, likely fined, and possibly forced to divest, would be for MS to completely leave the UK.
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Same boat. Haven't bought or played COD in years. Not interested in Overwatch, Diablo, or World of Warcraft either. Never played those games.
So the games and their potential exclusivity is not an issue for me. But this deal is horrible, and should just die.
If Xbox can't compete even after 2 decades without spending daddy's money, then perhaps they don't deserve to be a relevant player in the industry. Someone else will pick up the mantle.
Shakka43
Member
Varteras
Gold Member
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Pfft.
Microsoft will just change its name to SicroMoft and ABK to BKA, and CMA wouldn't even recognize it.
mrmustard
Banned
If they hire that expert from yesterday probably not
Embearded
Member
But they can compete, they can do great things, because they have 70B to spend on publishers.
Ar¢tos
Member
Then they'll leave the UK! Even if cost them another 70bn!
Because all that matters, all that is important is that a few men-children get to rent COD and Diablo instead of buying them.
bender
What time is it?
Pfft.
Microsoft will just change its name to SicroMoft and ABK to BKA, and CMA wouldn't even recognize it.
Microsoft/ABK/Sicromoft/BKA:
CMA/MAC
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Already explained it in the comment. It's a horrible deal that's bad for the industry. Very anti-competitive and monopolistic in nature.If it doesnt matter to you why does it matter to you?
mrmustard
Banned
Knock off these reductive console war posts.
Because it's bad for
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Even if it costs Microsoft $100 billion, they will get Diablo 4 and COD on Game Pass because they love their players that much!
Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
But you dont care about ABK so why do you care??
bender
What time is it?
Maybe he can see the forest.
Soooo, in summary
Jim Ryan
- somehow thinks that Xbox Series X is supply constrained and is selling good (unlike people around here)
- Murica players likes shooty shooty stuff and that's why COD is more popular there
- he doesn't remember if he met with regulatory bodies after october 2022 (wtf?)
- Nintendo is somehow part of console market but they are not Sony's competitor (???)
- Nintendo is played by bunch of kids despite fact that Nintendo infographic proves otherwise
- Don't think that Starfield exclusivity is anti-competitive (unlike PS fans around here)
- Thinks that COD devs would sabotage PS version of COD despite fact that there is no proof that Microsoft ever did it with PS versions of their games
- He flipped because Microsoft promised him Overwatch 1 and not Overwatch 2 despite game being SAME SKU (wtf?)
- thinks that Microsoft would engage in partial foreclosure of COD because of Game Pass despite Microsoft offering him ability to put COD into PS Plus day one
- He "doesn't listen to calls" where he said to the investors that he doesn't think that Activision merger would hurt Sony (wtf?)
- He "doesn't know" if they could be competitve if deal goes through (isn't he CEO of SIE though?)
- He refused to negotiate deal with Bobby Kotick to have COD on PlayStation
- Publishers "unanimously" don't like Game Pass (despite the fact that many of them are putting day one games into Game Pass like Square Enix, Capcom, Ubisoft, Focus Entertainment etc.)
- Does not think that cloud gaming is separate market (HAHAHAHAHA)
Yeah. It was fun
Meanwhile, ABK share price is almost at 85$. So I guess that market also agrees that FTC is making spectacular job...to not have PI
Jim Ryan
- somehow thinks that Xbox Series X is supply constrained and is selling good (unlike people around here)
- Murica players likes shooty shooty stuff and that's why COD is more popular there
- he doesn't remember if he met with regulatory bodies after october 2022 (wtf?)
- Nintendo is somehow part of console market but they are not Sony's competitor (???)
- Nintendo is played by bunch of kids despite fact that Nintendo infographic proves otherwise
- Don't think that Starfield exclusivity is anti-competitive (unlike PS fans around here)
- Thinks that COD devs would sabotage PS version of COD despite fact that there is no proof that Microsoft ever did it with PS versions of their games
- He flipped because Microsoft promised him Overwatch 1 and not Overwatch 2 despite game being SAME SKU (wtf?)
- thinks that Microsoft would engage in partial foreclosure of COD because of Game Pass despite Microsoft offering him ability to put COD into PS Plus day one
- He "doesn't listen to calls" where he said to the investors that he doesn't think that Activision merger would hurt Sony (wtf?)
- He "doesn't know" if they could be competitve if deal goes through (isn't he CEO of SIE though?)
- He refused to negotiate deal with Bobby Kotick to have COD on PlayStation
- Publishers "unanimously" don't like Game Pass (despite the fact that many of them are putting day one games into Game Pass like Square Enix, Capcom, Ubisoft, Focus Entertainment etc.)
- Does not think that cloud gaming is separate market (HAHAHAHAHA)
Yeah. It was fun
Meanwhile, ABK share price is almost at 85$. So I guess that market also agrees that FTC is making spectacular job...to not have PI
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mansoor1980
Member
factsSoooo, in summary
Jim Ryan
- somehow thinks that Xbox Series X is supply constrained and is selling good
- Murica players likes shooty shooty stuff and that's why COD is more popular there
- he doesn't remember if he met with regulatory bodies after october 2022 (wtf?)
- Nintendo is somehow part of console market but they are not Sony's competitor (???)
- Nintendo is played by bunch of kids despite fact that Nintendo infographic proves otherwise
- Don't think that Starfield exclusivity is anti-competitive (unlike PS fans around here)
- Thinks that COD devs would sabotage PS version of COD despite fact that there is no proof that Microsoft ever did it with PS versions of their games
- He flipped because Microsoft promised him Overwatch 1 and not Overwatch 2 despite game being SAME SKU (wtf?)
- thinks that Microsoft would engage in partial foreclosure of COD because of Game Pass despite Microsoft offering him ability to put COD into PS Plus day one
- He "doesn't listen to calls" where he said to the investors that he doesn't think that Activision merger would hurt Sony (wtf?)
- He "doesn't know" if they could be competitve if deal goes through
- He refused to negotiate deal with Bobby Kotick to have COD on PlayStation
- Publishers "unanimously" don't like Game Pass (despite the fact that many of them are putting day one games into Game Pass like Square Enix, Capcom, Ubisoft, Focus Entertainment etc.)
Yeah. It was fun
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
I've already told you. Read my comments.
I want this deal to be blocked because it's anti-competitive and bad for the industry. I don't want it blocked because PS would lose ABK games, as I don't even play ABK games.
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Black_Stride
do not tempt fate do not contrain Wonder Woman's thighs do not do not
Soooo, in summary
Jim Ryan
- somehow thinks that Xbox Series X is supply constrained and is selling good (unlike people around here)
- Murica players likes shooty shooty stuff and that's why COD is more popular there
- he doesn't remember if he met with regulatory bodies after october 2022 (wtf?)
- Nintendo is somehow part of console market but they are not Sony's competitor (???)
- Nintendo is played by bunch of kids despite fact that Nintendo infographic proves otherwise
- Don't think that Starfield exclusivity is anti-competitive (unlike PS fans around here)
- Thinks that COD devs would sabotage PS version of COD despite fact that there is no proof that Microsoft ever did it with PS versions of their games
- He flipped because Microsoft promised him Overwatch 1 and not Overwatch 2 despite game being SAME SKU (wtf?)
- thinks that Microsoft would engage in partial foreclosure of COD because of Game Pass despite Microsoft offering him ability to put COD into PS Plus day one
- He "doesn't listen to calls" where he said to the investors that he doesn't think that Activision merger would hurt Sony (wtf?)
- He "doesn't know" if they could be competitve if deal goes through (isn't he CEO of SIE though?)
- He refused to negotiate deal with Bobby Kotick to have COD on PlayStation
- Publishers "unanimously" don't like Game Pass (despite the fact that many of them are putting day one games into Game Pass like Square Enix, Capcom, Ubisoft, Focus Entertainment etc.)
- Does not think that cloud gaming is separate market (HAHAHAHAHA)
Yeah. It was fun
Meanwhile, ABK share price is almost at 85$. So I guess that market also agrees that FTC is making spectacular job...to not have PI
Banjo64
cumsessed
Same. Only good thing ABK have put out in the last 15 years is THPS 1&2, Spyro/Crash remasters.
I think for me this comes down to the fact that I don’t want M$ to be able to spend $80b, absorbing massive losses with their current subscription strategy, with the primary motivator being starving Sony of hundreds of millions of dollars a year in revenue.
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