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[TheGodfather07]

If only NVIDiA knew they just had to flash cash at regulators to get the ARM deal approved, eh?

Seriously, though, these posts are nonsense. They’ve detailed why exactly they’ve reconsidered their position, and the maths checks out.

Mid last year, half this forum was filled with people saying the ‘corrupt FTC’ would approve the deal on an accelerated timeframe. Look where we are today.

Cash? Watch the godfather and you will understand the joke.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

I think it would be seen as an attempt to be one, GTA would fall under all the same scrutiny as Call Of Duty. Like I said if Xbox was market leader then this would be blocked but they are a distant third and Blizzard/King actually have no impact on that.
The market leader who already has made several franchises exclusive from third parties would be blocked I'm sure.

GTA is not the same as CoD. CoD is like the number 1 title every year and generates far more revenue.

GTA is a massive property...that comes out once a decade and sells decently every year, but nothing like CoD.

"Market leaders" can buy other companies as long as it doesn't result in a monopoly. In this case it wouldn't. Microsoft has Activision. Nintendo is still Nintendo. Take 2 is small fry in comparison.

 

[Varteras]

Great. Now we wait for the FTC to drag this shit out. Hopefully they don't and just go along with whatever the CMA and EC decide. Then we can move on.

 

[Flutta]

So basically ”rules” don’t apply to the elite of the elite. They have politicians and regulators in their pockets. What we saw during this whole time was just some charade on display and everyone believed the rules apply to any company. Well at least we got entertained in the process

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

That’s irrelevant.
It could significantly impact Nintendo in Japan, for example, and regulators would look at marketshare and market position of the purchasing party, as well as the mindshare around their games.

Behavioral remedies would be recommended.

Of course the regulators would look at it. Then pass it because it's a wet fart. None of these remedies needed. Neither studio is anywhere in the same galaxy as Activision.

 

[Kilau]

As much as I dislike these giant acquisitions, I kinda want to see Sony go for a big one just to watch the sides switch narratives.

 

[adamsapple]

I don't think that is even going to happen at this point. EU is supposedly only concerned about cloud gaming competition. CMA says this deal won't SLC. So why are any concessions needed for Sony at all?

If the deal passes through without any concessions, it will be a ridiculously good get for MS and almost a complete 360 + 180 degree u turn from both CMA and EU compared to their stances a few weeks/months ago.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Great. Now we wait for the FTC to drag this shit out. Hopefully they don't and just go along with whatever the CMA and EC decide. Then we can move on.

The CMA hasn't decided yet though.

They still may reject the deal based on cloud gaming.

 

[DeepEnigma]

As much as I dislike these giant acquisitions, I kinda want to see Sony go for a big one just to watch the sides switch narratives.

I will still stick to not liking it.

 

[Ozriel]

Why? Sony would just offer Nintendo and all those with concerns the world famous 10 year deal then bosh ! Just like this acquisition it's done that's how it seems to me .

A 10 year behavioral remedy would work.

I thought According to the CMA Nintendo isn't a competitor in the same market ? .

Call of Duty wasnt on Nintendo consoles.

Capcom’s games? Square’s JRPGs? Of course they’d rope Nintendo in, no question.

 

[lh032]

Why? Sony would just offer Nintendo and all those with concerns the world famous 10 year deal then bosh ! Just like this acquisition it's done that's how it seems to me .

I thought According to the CMA Nintendo isn't a competitor in the same market ? .

10 years cloud deal ,yummy

 

[Tomeru]

So Microsoft can't compete by making their existing studios better and growing their existing studios?

They aren't some minor player with limited resources who is a new entrant into the industry. They now span 4 console generations and have been in operation for nearly 25 years.

Why do they need to buy Activision to be competitive?

If you can't beat them - buy them. Problem solved and you are

 

[Varteras]

The CMA hasn't decided yet though.

They still may reject the deal based on cloud gaming.

Possible but I'm having a hard time believing that. Their stance was pretty hard against it in general and now it significantly softened.

 

[Topher]

Great. Now we wait for the FTC to drag this shit out. Hopefully they don't and just go along with whatever the CMA and EC decide. Then we can move on.

Just realized that the next big fight could be if the FTC tries to get an injunction against MS and ABK finalizing the deal.

If the deal passes through without any concessions, it will be a ridiculously good get for MS and almost a complete 360 + 180 degree u turn from both CMA and EU compared to their stances a few weeks/months ago.

There are concessions already in place, but just not any for Sony. But yeah, that is still a massive win for Microsoft if it keeps going like this.

Lina Khan ain't going to beat Microsoft. That's for damn sure.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Sony acquiring Capcom or Square would not significantly change their competitor's prospects. Both studios are each less than 1/10th the market cap of Activision.

Market cap has nothing to do with it. Sony will be at least asked to put games Day 1 on PC and cloud providers.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Market cap has nothing to do with it. Sony will be at least asked to put games Day 1 on PC and cloud providers.

No they wouldn't. That's not how this works.

And yes, Market Cap is a a proxy for Market Influence.

Some $5-6B studio is a nothing burger.

 

[Ozriel]

Of course the regulators would look at it. Then pass it because it's a wet fart. None of these remedies needed. Neither studio is anywhere in the same galaxy as Activision.

This is such a weird argument from you. Regulators didn’t bother with Blizzard’s games or Candy crush or World of Warcraft or the other IP contributing to that valuation. All they cared about was Call of Duty.


Consider Take 2, for example. Grand Theft Auto occupies a similar position to COD. It’s a mega, mega seller. Easily demonstrated with charts etc. The assumption that they’d wave GTA aside because of the ABK purchase is frankly hilarious.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

No they wouldn't. That's not how this works.

And yes, Market Cap is a a proxy for Market Influence.

Some $5-6B studio is a nothing burger.

Except it is. ABK deal has created a precedent.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

This is such a weird argument from you. Regulators didn’t bother with Blizzard’s games or Candy crush or World of Warcraft or the other IP contributing to that valuation. All they cared about was Call of Duty.


Consider Take 2, for example. Grand Theft Auto occupies a similar position to COD. It’s a mega, mega seller. Easily demonstrated with charts etc. The assumption that they’d wave GTA aside because of the ABK purchase is frankly hilarious.

How does GTA represent a similar position to CoD when it doesn't generate nearly as much revenue and released once every decade? Sure, it's a great evergreen title. But it isn't CoD. Nowhere close.

 

[GHG]

Supporting an American company is jingoism? That concept explains a lot of problems

What "problems"?

Most rational consumers purchase the best product that fits their needs within the budget they have avialble at the time.

So yes, purchasing products soley due to nationalism, even if it means you end up with a subpar product is jingoism. The only person you're hurting in that scenario is yourself.

 

[wolffy71]

Has anyone answered this? Maybe I'm just very stupid but how does buying a publisher create more competition when we know good and well that they're going to push 99% of their products as exclusive?

Exclusive and competition have nothing to do with one another?

Like one can exist with or without the other.

 

[TheGodfather07]

Square enix is a waste. How will it help sony? Losing western ip is the danger right now.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Except it is. ABK deal has created a precedent.

ABK did not set any precedent. It was a situation where a $2T market cap company tried to acquire a $70B company to the objection of its biggest competitor which is only $40B larger than the company they are trying to acquire.

Sony is not in that sort of position, as a much smaller company than Microsoft (1/20th the Market Cap), buying a much smaller company with Take 2 (vs Activision).

 

[phil_t98]

The difference is that PS fans don't start crying when a game doesn't come to PS+.

That’s because PS block games from coming to gamepass, we haven’t seen Microsoft pay a third party to not put a game on PS+

 

[Demon2blades]

Capcom’s games? Square’s JRPGs? Of course they’d rope Nintendo in, no question.

But a ten year deal means whatever games they are getting they can make alternatives am rite ?

Activison games are also on Nintendo? It'll be fine .

 

[Topher]

That’s because PS block games from coming to gamepass, we haven’t seen Microsoft pay a third party to not put a game on PS+

That's because we haven't seen Microsoft's marketing deals. We don't know what restrictions they put on games.

 

[splattered]

What "problems"?

Most rational consumers purchase the best product that fits their needs within the budget they have avialble at the time.

So yes, purchasing products soley due to nationalism, even if it means you end up with a subpar product is jingoism. The only person you're hurting in that scenario is yourself.

So you're telling me that Xbox fans only buy their products because it's an american company?

That is absolutely absurd man... i expect better from people of this forum.

Wow.

 

[IntentionalPun]

Sony isn't buying a company like Take 2 that would cost them upwards of $25 billion right now either way.

Really think that's just so out of left field it's barely worth talking about.

 

[GHG]

So you're telling me that Xbox fans only buy their products because it's an american company?

That is absolutely absurd man... i expect better from people of this forum.

Wow.

Where did I say that?

Wow indeed.

 

[SEGAvangelist]

Sega won't change shit. Microsoft go for the big dogs. Take two or EA.

I don't care about that. I just want to play SEGA games day one on Game Pass. It's entirely self-serving.

 

[RoboFu]

That's because we haven't seen Microsoft's marketing deals. We don't know what restrictions they put on games.

Obviously not as bad or we would easily see them as we do Sonys deals, but that may just be because they do not have the leverage to do so. I mean how many "exclusive content on PS" have we seen over the years in ads? a lot.

 

[poppabk]

Remember people said what would Microsoft do if the deal didn't pass? Well what are sony gonna do? Because Microsoft are really coming at them here and regulators ain't getting in the way. They must feel hugely threatened right now and I'm interested to see how they respond. Even more aggressive moneyhatting? Japanese publishers? Maybe even a western one as a defensive move before Microsoft swallow them up. Man i don't like this publisher buying crap. The industry is about to change, big time.

Literally nothing will change if this deal goes through except for gamepass getting a whole bunch of games. Sony won't lose any games and MS won't gain any, at least for awhile. I expect MS to have some exclusive games in the future, but not mainline CoD.

 

[Varteras]

So you're telling me that Xbox fans only buy their products because it's an american company?

That is absolutely absurd man... i expect better from people of this forum.

Wow.

To be fair, I used to work at an EB Games back when 360 launched. My manager and several store regulars were Xbox fanboys. They literally said one of the reasons they buy Xbox is to support an American company. Those people actually do exist. I've met them and worked under one. It's not the whole fanbase, of course.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Obviously not as bad or we would easily see them as we do Sonys deals, but that may just be because they do not have the leverage to do so. I mean how many "exclusive content on PS" have we seen over the years in ads? a lot.

Now that's a leap in fanfic logic.

 

[RoboFu]

Where did I say that?

Wow indeed.

you literally justy said it. lol

This is nothing new unfortunately. It became glaringly obvious during the early part of the Xbox One generation when some people where 100% happy to state they were continuing to support xbox due to jingoism alone.

 

[DeepEnigma]

To be fair, I used to work at an EB Games back when 360 launched. My manager and several store regulars were Xbox fanboys. They literally said one of the reasons they buy Xbox is to support an American company. Those people actually do exist. I've met them and worked under one. It's not the whole fanbase, of course.

Same as some in Japan preferring Japanese products. A tale as old as time.

 

[splattered]

Where did I say that?

Wow indeed.

This is nothing new unfortunately. It became glaringly obvious during the early part of the Xbox One generation when some people where 100% happy to state they were continuing to support xbox due to jingoism alone.

I'm sure there was a small subset of "fans" that stated things like this but people actually DO enjoy Xbox games for what they are and don't consider them "inferior"

 

[RoboFu]

Now that's a leap in fanfic logic.

how so? please enlighten me. im willing to listen to reason if you have proof of what I said is false.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

So you're telling me that Xbox fans only buy their products because it's an american company?

That is absolutely absurd man... i expect better from people of this forum.

Wow.

no. this is thing. (not only for consoles).

 

[Ozriel]

How does GTA represent a similar position to CoD when it doesn't generate nearly as much revenue and released once every decade? Sure, it's a great evergreen title. But it isn't CoD. Nowhere close.

Does it sell as much as COD franchise? No

Does it sell absolute gangbusters? Yes. 175 million for GTAV so far.

I’m sure it’s just your anger today that’s made you make the ludicrous claim that an IP like this wouldn’t receive regulator scrutiny.

the CMA concluded that MS has no incentive to keep COD exclusive post purchase. What do you think they’d conclude if they did the same research about Sony for a largely single player franchise like GTA? Especially given Sony’s history.

Even worse when you throw in RDR

 

[GHG]

you literally justy said it. lol

"Some" being the key word. That's literally what happened and continues to happen and some people are happy to state as such.

But ignore that if you wish. If that indeed was any of you and that's the reason for you taking offense to it then I'm sorry, I truly am.

And to elaborate further which is what thicc_girls_are_teh_best was alluding to, some people have even gone as far as to be racist in their attitudes towards Japan, all in the name of their selection of console. If anyone wants to be supportive of those attitudes then that's none of my business, says more about them than it does anyone else.

 

[Salty Popsicle]

As much as I dislike these giant acquisitions, I kinda want to see Sony go for a big one just to watch the sides switch narratives.

Bungie is pretty much as big as they can go. Buying a company with a similar valuation as Activision is simply a fever dream for Sony.

 

[DeepEnigma]

how so? please enlighten me. im willing to listen to reason if you have proof of what I said is false.

Only reason we saw Sony's for that one deal, is that it was revealed during the Epic vs Apple court case. MS's weren't. Just because they are not revealed, doesn't correlate into "obviously not as bad."

 

[Thirty7ven]

Sony isn't buying a company like Take 2 that would cost them upwards of $25 billion right now either way.

Really think that's just so out of left field it's barely worth talking about.

If their wild push for live service games fail, they are fucked.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Does it sell as much as COD franchise? No

Does it sell absolute gangbusters? Yes. 175 million for GTAV so far.

I’m sure it’s just your anger today that’s made you make the ludicrous claim that an IP like this wouldn’t receive regulator scrutiny.

the CMA concluded that MS has no incentive to keep COD exclusive post purchase. What do you think they’d conclude if they did the same research about Sony for a largely single player franchise like GTA? Especially given Sony’s history.

Even worse when you throw in RDR

I didn't ask about unit sales.

I specifically asked about annual revenue.

 

[Topher]

Obviously not as bad or we would easily see them as we do Sonys deals, but that may just be because they do not have the leverage to do so. I mean how many "exclusive content on PS" over the years in ads? a lot.

We are talking about blocking games from Game Pass. Does MS marketing deals prevent games from being on other subscription services? I would certainly think so but I don't know since we haven't seen the contracts like we saw Sony's.

 

[feynoob]

What "problems"?

Most rational consumers purchase the best product that fits their needs within the budget they have avialble at the time.

So yes, purchasing products soley due to nationalism, even if it means you end up with a subpar product is jingoism. The only person you're hurting in that scenario is yourself.

Japanese people buy Japanese products.
It's how people behave. They prefer their country products over others.

 

[DeepEnigma]

We are talking about blocking games from Game Pass. Does MS marketing deals prevent games from being on other subscription services? I would certainly think so but I don't know since we haven't seen the contracts like we saw Sony's.

Chances are, games they pay for market rights and time exclusivity also contain such language. It would be sound business logic.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Japanese people buy Japanese products.
It's how people behave. They prefer their country products over others.

didnt knew Iphone was Japanese.

 

[splattered]

If their wild push for live service games fail, they are fucked.

I don't think it will fail, they will be fine.