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

Do you believe the deal will be approved?

  • Yes, will be approved without changes.

    Votes: 221 24.9%

  • Yes, will be approved but with structural changes to ABK.

    Votes: 102 11.5%

  • Yes, will be approved but only with behavioral concessions.

    Votes: 262 29.6%

  • No, will not be approved.

    Votes: 301 34.0%
  • Total voters
    886
  • Poll closed .
Status
Not open for further replies.
Topher

Topher

Gold Member
noise36 said:
Someday maybe corporate PR speak from MS is the basis for government regulatory decisions now is it?

Cloud does not equal cloud gaming. One is a highly profitable growth industry the other is a niche nothing industry no one is willing to pay for on its own.

Sony can just leverage AWS, or another cloud provider, no need to build anything like MS with Azure.
Click to expand...

Hilarious how some here keep trying to make this about Sony.
 
N

noise36

Member
Bernardougf said:
Canot wait for gamepass to die ... this cheap/free gaming delusional beggar crowd can go to the next genius promising free shit at the cost of their freedom of choice.. people never learn, is amazingly stupid.
Click to expand...
No one said cheap or free except you! Gamepass lowers the cost of entry and expands the ways you can play games with PC and cloud support. More gamers playing more games!
 
Bojanglez

Bojanglez

The Amiga Brotherhood
noise36 said:
Someday maybe corporate PR speak from MS is the basis for government regulatory decisions now is it?

Cloud does not equal cloud gaming. One is a highly profitable growth industry the other is a niche nothing industry no one is willing to pay for on its own.

Sony can just leverage AWS, or another cloud provider, no need to build anything like MS with Azure.
Click to expand...
What about companies that aren't Sony and don't have their own hardware that could theoretically be mounted in a server farm? People should be able to build cloud solutions using any cloud vendor using standard PC technology, unfortunately in games MS has a monopoly on PC gaming in the OS space and therefore could make using alternative cloud solutions expensive or even not possibly with it's Windows licensing.

There is a whole other case going on with the EU about MS and their aggressive bundling of Azure with Windows and stifling open, multi cloud solutions. This whole thing could be seen as part of that wider picture.
 
ToTTenTranz

ToTTenTranz

Banned
PaintTinJr said:
I have memories of reading about his work situation back in the thread and his current rants read like he's convinced colleagues and customers to get the free ATVI money and is now professionally compromised with others losing money like he is, if the deal is buried, in addition to being currently dead.
Click to expand...

Damn, I did make fun of him burying so much money on ATVI shares some months ago. But like all moderate approaches to gambling I assumed he was spending money he could live without.

I hope he lands on his feet.
 
N

noise36

Member
Topher said:
Hilarious how some here keep trying to make this about Sony.
Click to expand...

How is it possible to talk about the console gaming industry without talking about the market leader?

Its like talking about the mobile gaming industry without talking about Apple. Pointless!
 
Last edited:
Sanepar

Sanepar

Member
GHG said:
Well this is what they will want to tell us now, which is highly convenient when they've been spending so much time talking up their cloud offering (along with a few people here who shall not be named).

The reality is that things are indeed progressing in that space, it's probably the area that is being most invested in from an R&D perspective and Nvidia pretty much have a proof of concept out there that proves it can work under the right circumstances (proximity to the server, Internet connection, etc).

I'm not a fan and probably never will be. The most I'm willing to tolerate is in-home streaming but even that I'll avoid unless I have no other option (hence I now have 3 PC's + a steam deck + a PS5 spread across my home). But we need to remember, most people who post on a forum like this are hardcore gamers and will be more sensitive to things like latency and lag than public joe will be. We make up the minority of these companies' customers and public joe makes up the majority. The moment it catches on with public joe, that's the direction we are heading in and we are powerless to fight it, just as we have been with mobile gaming, GAAS and microtracsations/lootboxes.

Everything Microsoft are doing now is with both eyes firmly on the future. You don't propose to invest over 70 billion dollors on a division that has failed to make you money over the course of it's existence (net) unless you see a future where those investments will turn out to be highly lucrative (they also don't throw their toys out the pram in the way they have done since the CMA decision if it wasn't an imperative step from a strategic standpoint). How exactly do they envisage things becoming lucrative? They've been telling us this whole time - it's not console, it's cloud.

If given the opportunity to they will force us in that direction as quickly as they feasibly can. Hence when Phil Spencer mentioned "the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is meant to speed up Microsoft's gaming plans", that's very likely exactly what he was referring to. If we are forced in that direction then outside of owning what will become increasingly expensive and niche gaming hardware (because consoles will no longer be produced at scale, if at all) we will have very little choice but to accept it.

I take a very dim view of everything related to cloud because when I see these huge mega-corporations getting as excited and enthusiastic as they are about things like this it only ever spells trouble for us.
Click to expand...
The day cloud will be the only option the day i'm done with games. Since i'm 40. 50 is a good age to quit.

I don't want be part of a market for rent games to run on a cloud.
 
N

noise36

Member
Bojanglez said:
What about companies that aren't Sony and don't have their own hardware that could theoretically be mounted in a server farm? People should be able to build cloud solutions using any cloud vendor using standard PC technology, unfortunately in games MS has a monopoly on PC gaming in the OS space and therefore could make using alternative cloud solutions expensive or even not possibly with it's Windows licensing.
Click to expand...
If you use your imagination hard enough you can make up what ever you like.
 
Last edited:
Topher

Topher

Gold Member
noise36 said:
How is it possible to talk about the console gaming industry without talking about the market leader?

Its like talking about the mobile gaming industry without talking about Apple. Pointless!
Click to expand...

Has jack all to do with console gaming and you know it. This is entirely about cloud gaming.

noise36 said:
If you use your imagination hard enough you can make up what ever you like. Clearly CMA agrees and has made up an industry that doesn't exist to stifle competition in an industry that does exist.
Click to expand...

Cloud gaming doesn't exist as a market now? Are you serious?
 
FrankWza

FrankWza

Member
DeepEnigma said:
MS won't get rid of their brand mascot. Not in the traditional way of sorts.
Click to expand...
One day his collarless leather jacket will hang from the rafters.
No Strings Attached GIF by *NSYNC
aj mclean cowboy hat GIF by BACKSTREET BOYS
 
N

noise36

Member
Topher said:
Cloud gaming doesn't exist as a market now? Are you serious?
Click to expand...
That was a quick quote! I deleted that last part as couldn't be bothered.

The point I was making was that not enough people want to pay for it so it has to be bundled to create the market. It cant exist for long on its own because its not profitable.
 
Last edited:
Bernardougf

Bernardougf

Gold Member
POKEYCLYDE said:
What does Gamepass dying give you?
Click to expand...
Its a unsustainable choice in this industry, as it is today, only capable of existing loosing money under MS who can take the hit because its obvious they have a plan for it and its not give quality AAA content for cheap/free for ever. If you drank the kool-aid and believe in their speeches go for it, I dont, and dont want to see the future of gaming controlled by streaming services with cheaper quantity low quality content instead of the options we get today, even more if their plan as usual lead to an almost monopolistic business model.

There is nothing wrong with the game market as sony and nintendo continues to prove it, MS is trying to jump the shark, and I cant give two fucks about what their idea of the future for us is.
 
Last edited:
Topher

Topher

Gold Member
noise36 said:
That was a quick quote! I deleted that last part as couldn't be bothered.
Click to expand...

Because it was factually wrong.

The point I was making was that not enough people want to pay for it so it has to be bundled to create the market. It cant exist for long on its own because its not profitable.
Click to expand...

The information given to CMA says there will be a lot of growth in cloud gaming in the future and future market conditions is the basis of their decision. Microsoft themselves have said in the past that their primary competition in gaming in the future is with cloud gaming. Hell, Microsoft was promoting cloud gaming heavily just last year to developers. Just because the service is bundled now doesn't mean it will remain that way. If cloud gaming grows as much as Microsoft has talked about, then there very well could be a stand alone service in the future.

xbox-cloud-gaming-players-build-2022.jpg

9to5google.com

Microsoft reveals Xbox Cloud Gaming has over 10 million players, as Stadia remains silent

Microsoft has announced that Xbox Cloud Gaming now has over 10 million players, just behind Nvidia GeForce Now.
9to5google.com 9to5google.com
www.cnet.com

Microsoft CEO Pitches Xbox Cloud Gaming to Developers, Promising No Extra Coding

Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming isn't just meant for the company's video game console, he noted. It also works on mobile phones and tablets.
www.cnet.com www.cnet.com
 
POKEYCLYDE

POKEYCLYDE

Member
Bernardougf said:
Its a unsustainable choice in this industry, as it is today, only capable of existing loosing money under MS who can take the hit because its obvious they have a plan for it and its not give quality AAA content for cheap/free for ever. If you drank the kool-aid and believe in their speeches go for it, I dont, and dont want to see the future of gaming controlled by streaming services with cheaper quantity low quality content instead of the options we get today, even more if their plan as usual lead to an almost monopolistic business model.

There is nothing wrong with the game market as sony and nintendo continues to prove it, MS is trying to jump the shark, and I cant give two fucks about what their idea of the future for us is.
Click to expand...
Everyone can vote with their wallet.

I don't think it's an unsustainable business model, just one that requires a critical mass of subs. It's already profitable, but B2P is more profitable at the moment. As subscribers increase so will profits, and will probably surpass the B2P model. Quality nor quantity need be affected.

Gamepass isn't mandatory. So if quality/quantity are affected, anyone can switch up and buy a different console or stop subscribing and return to buying their games.

Your anger is really unjustified.
 
Astray

Astray

Member
Edmund said:
I wonder what would happen if someone
sneaks into @SenjutsuSage's house at night while he's sleeping and replace his series X console with a PS5.
Click to expand...
Plot twist: they will find that he already owns one.

PaintTinJr said:
The maths makes no sense to keep Xbox running, but the second they cancel it, Windows' DirectX API is on borrowed time along with their alliance with Nvidia, and as shown in the provisional CMA reports, the API is what blocks competing OSes to take some of their +90% share of the PC gaming OS market, and weakens Linux offerings in the Cloud gaming space.

The revenue from Windows makes the - my guestimate - $1b-$2b loss per year loss from Xbox/xbox marketing in Bing search a rounding error for those running Microsoft, even if to the shareholders it would look like something to cut adrift. It isn't like Microsoft would even be able to explain that situation to shareholders as it would put on record the very actions they deny the FTC accusing them of in anti-trust litigation.

IMHO Xbox will remain while the threat of a PlayStation displacing all desktop/laptop Windows PC functionality for the average Joe - in their house with an under the TV box - remains.
Click to expand...
The bolded part is exactly why DirectX development will still happen, Xbox existing or not. Unlike Xbox, Windows is a profitable service and a facilitator for all their other products, so anything that strengthens it will continue to be made.
 
B

BattleScar

Member
PaintTinJr said:
I have memories of reading about his work situation back in the thread and his current rants read like he's convinced colleagues and customers to get the free ATVI money and is now professionally compromised with others losing money like he is, if the deal is buried, in addition to being currently dead.
Click to expand...
Whats with this Microsoft shill obsession with leaving the UK market.
The UK market is Xbox's second biggest market.

And believe me, it will not look good at all to other countries and economic forums, that a company will exit their market if they don't like the regulatory decisions.
Why bother investing in and using Microsoft products, if they could abandon you as soon as you do something they don't like.

Fucking comical.
 
demigod

demigod

Member
Moridianae said:
This whole concept of folks going off the rails and saying to exit the UK market over this deal getting torpedoed(and probably also by the EC this month) is insanity.

They've never been able to secure a foothold in the Japanese market, so now you want them to just pack up and go in the UK because it's sour grapes because you were told no?

Wow.
Click to expand...
Delusional fanboys, we just went back in circles. This is worse than some fans saying Sony should drop CoD had it passed.
 
POKEYCLYDE

POKEYCLYDE

Member
PaintTinJr said:
Death of an anti-trust strategy to bleed the poorer companies that deliver actual games out.
Click to expand...
Who are these poorer companies? Are there are examples of Gamepass negatively affecting a competitor's B2P sales?

Did God of War sell less because of Gamepass? Will Tears of the Kingdom sell less because of Gamepass? Or are you conflating the cannibalization of B2P sales of games on Gamepass with the industry at large?

Developers aren't forced to be on Gamepass, and they're compensated for being on Gamepass.
 
Tomeru

Tomeru

Member
POKEYCLYDE said:
Who are these poorer companies? Are there are examples of Gamepass negatively affecting a competitor's B2P sales?

Did God of War sell less because of Gamepass? Will Tears of the Kingdom sell less because of Gamepass? Or are you conflating the cannibalization of B2P sales of games on Gamepass with the industry at large?

Developers aren't forced to be on Gamepass, and they're compensated for being on Gamepass.
Click to expand...
The strategy of buying games instead of naking them youself.
 
T

Three

Member
POKEYCLYDE said:
Who are these poorer companies? Are there are examples of Gamepass negatively affecting a competitor's B2P sales?

Did God of War sell less because of Gamepass? Will Tears of the Kingdom sell less because of Gamepass? Or are you conflating the cannibalization of B2P sales of games on Gamepass with the industry at large?

Developers aren't forced to be on Gamepass, and they're compensated for being on Gamepass.
Click to expand...
That's a reductive way of looking at it. No artist was forced to be on spotify either but it doesn't mean sales didn't get affected by subscriptions and streaming regardless. The consumers go and play the other games they've got "for free" as part of the subscription and games do end up selling less overall. This may not affect the big players with massive mindeshare as much but it does lower sales of games over time including those that aren't on it.
 
Topher

Topher

Gold Member
noise36 said:
Predicting the future? MS someday maybe PR and marketing speak is driving decision making at the CMA. Farcical! :messenger_tears_of_joy:
Click to expand...

Mergers this size have impact far into the future.

So its gone from "there will be" to "if" ?
Click to expand...

Only if you purposely misread. I said "if". I am not those giving information to the CMA saying "there will be a lot of growth". Not surprised you conflated the two to manufacture yet another bullshit argument.
 
Last edited:
XesqueVara

XesqueVara

Member
Last edited:
Heisenberg007

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
XesqueVara said:
I doubt they didn't know the risks of this deal failing, The amount of lawyers who worked on the Merger agreement is probably insane.
Still Tho thinks the idea of someone get fired over this is retarded.
Click to expand...
They obviously knew the risks of the deal failing -- they mentioned that ($3 billion penalty) in the contract. They just didn't think this deal would fail -- as evident by Satya's quote.

They had a very flawed understanding and expectation of how it's gonna go.
 
Heisenberg007

Heisenberg007

Gold Journalism
BattleScar said:
Whats with this Microsoft shill obsession with leaving the UK market.
The UK market is Xbox's second biggest market.

And believe me, it will not look good at all to other countries and economic forums, that a company will exit their market if they don't like the regulatory decisions.
Why bother investing in and using Microsoft products, if they could abandon you as soon as you do something they don't like.

Fucking comical.
Click to expand...
It's simple.

Because the deal was blocked and "more people couldn't get access to more games, however, they want to play it," let's fuck up an entire market and userbase and take away their choices from them.

Makes total sense. /s
 
Neofire

Neofire

Member
BattleScar said:
Whats with this Microsoft shill obsession with leaving the UK market.
The UK market is Xbox's second biggest market.

And believe me, it will not look good at all to other countries and economic forums, that a company will exit their market if they don't like the regulatory decisions.
Why bother investing in and using Microsoft products, if they could abandon you as soon as you do something they don't like.

Fucking comical.
Click to expand...
You didn't get the memo? Microsoft should be able to do whatever they want....whenever.
 
DeepEnigma

DeepEnigma

Gold Member
BattleScar said:
Whats with this Microsoft shill obsession with leaving the UK market.
The UK market is Xbox's second biggest market.

And believe me, it will not look good at all to other countries and economic forums, that a company will exit their market if they don't like the regulatory decisions.
Why bother investing in and using Microsoft products, if they could abandon you as soon as you do something they don't like.

Fucking comical.
Click to expand...
It's all low IQ delusions. Fanaticism is a mental disorder.
 
Z

zedinen

Member
Topher said:
Hilarious how some here keep trying to make this about Sony.
Click to expand...

Sony? This is about SIE.

PlayStation has always been one step ahead of Microsoft.

While Microsoft was wasting time with market shares in console gaming ...

fEGI7yI.jpeg




SIE was raising concerns about cloud gaming,

g3FFFkV.jpeg


LOn10eL.jpeg





using Phil Spencer words and Windows and Azure success against Microsoft, and positioning PS Plus as the only alternative to Microsoft dominance after Google Stadia death and Amazon Luna irrelevance.

zfW73eZ.jpeg



AN60olH.jpeg



wPhFK70.jpeg


uh3PqIu.jpeg


isIInDo.jpeg



SIE didn't take the bait (10-year deal) and the rest is history.

UZMlt5b.jpeg
 
S

SneakersSO

Member
POKEYCLYDE said:
I don't think it's an unsustainable business model, just one that requires a critical mass of subs. It's already profitable, but B2P is more profitable at the moment. As subscribers increase so will profits, and will probably surpass the B2P model. Quality nor quantity need be affected.
Click to expand...
I factually know it is not profitable, and by quite a margin. Spencer said 'its profitable for them'. Its not profitable in actuality - their costs are not offset by their revenue.
 
Topher

Topher

Gold Member
zedinen said:
Sony? This is about SIE.

PlayStation has always been one step ahead of Microsoft.

While Microsoft was wasting time with market shares in console gaming ...

fEGI7yI.jpeg




SIE was raising concerns about cloud gaming,

g3FFFkV.jpeg


LOn10eL.jpeg





using Phil Spencer words and Windows and Azure success against Microsoft, and positioning PS Plus as the only alternative to Microsoft dominance after Google Stadia death and Amazon Luna irrelevance.

zfW73eZ.jpeg



AN60olH.jpeg



wPhFK70.jpeg


uh3PqIu.jpeg


isIInDo.jpeg



SIE didn't take the bait (10-year deal) and the rest is history.

UZMlt5b.jpeg
Click to expand...

No, it is not about SIE. It is about the overall cloud gaming market. Look at all the other companies listed.
 
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