Microsoft's acquisition of Activison Blizzard

[ksdixon]

Xbox been in the game for 20 years and still dont know how to grow the customers that wants to willingly buy into your ecosystem. We're supposed to feel bad for them because of this? Nah last I check if you're not good at what you doing, graciously bow out and let real competitor enter the game.

Xbox is the Al bundy of the game industry. Always talking about the 4 touch downs they made in a single game years ago...But what have you done for your consumers lately?

Nah, Al's a has-been.
XB, meanwhile, is a never-was and a never-will-be.

 

[Yobo]

It helps to read the entire quote, this is what he says next:



Secondly, this was widely circulated at the end of last year when FTC tried to pull the Bethesda card as well and basically lied that MS made commitments to EU that they will not make games like Starfield exclusive.

EU did not ask or required any such commitment. They have to come out and all but call FTC liars.

So this current situation is nothing like Zenimax.

Yeah we know Phil plays word games, say two things and only mean one. They bought Bethesda, acted altruistic about game availability and immediately took them exclusive when the deal closed.

Nobody said that it was a commitment. It is what they presented though:



And that's why this time around there is a lot more scrutiny on MS's intentions

 

[KiryuRealty]

Yeah we know Phil plays word games, say two things and only mean one. They bought Bethesda, acted altruistic about game availability and immediately took them exclusive when the deal closed.

Nobody said that it was a commitment. It is what they presented though:



And that's why this time around there is a lot more scrutiny on MS's intentions

And MS STILL thought they could pull the same shit a second time!

 

[Doncortez77]

Yeah we know Phil plays word games, say two things and only mean one. They bought Bethesda, acted altruistic about game availability and immediately took them exclusive when the deal closed.

Nobody said that it was a commitment. It is what they presented though:



And that's why this time around there is a lot more scrutiny on MS's intentions

Correct. And anyone with a pulse and common sense knew their lies would have end up with scrutiny the next time they attempt to make another large acquisition.

An example needs to be made so they won’t try that shit again.

 

[adamsapple]

Yeah we know Phil plays word games, say two things and only mean one. They bought Bethesda, acted altruistic about game availability and immediately took them exclusive when the deal closed.

Nobody said that it was a commitment. It is what they presented though:



And that's why this time around there is a lot more scrutiny on MS's intentions

"this time" there's more scrutiny because this is one of the most, if not THE most, expensive acquisitions of all time. There would be this level of scrutiny even if it were any company.

Secondly, the answer to the question lies within the EC report itself.

The profitability concern was raised and determined that a console exclusive would be profitable if it is going to ship a lot of units. Starfield is going to ship a lot of units.

Second, the part about limiting Zenimax games reads like they're talking about not limiting existing games on 'rival platforms'. It's written in vague enough legalese that it can be interpreted in one way or another. But then again, this is very typical contract jargon.

-


Is Phil a fast talker ? Yes, of course. It's his job. But this Activision situation is not comparable to Zenimax at all.

 

[Bodycount611]

Once Xbox leaves the console industry all of the bethesda games will come back to PS5 so it will all work out in the end anyways.

After today, no chance in hell MS gets activision.

Xbox is dead. That's a wrap, folks.

 

[Old Gamer]

Minecraft would be off of PS years ago. Minecraft, the single highest selling game of all time that still comes in top download charts even now.

Sure it would, unless there was a clause in the terms of sale that compells any game based on that IP to remain on all platforms.
Why isn't there a current gen console version of Minecraft, I wonder?

 

[FatKaz]

So as usual in the end it comes down to the CMA. They basically told the CMA yesterday we don't care about what you prefer you will take what we offer you.

The reality must have dawned on them that CMA isn't gonna be happy with whatever behavoruial remedies, so back to the usual pr stunt and trying to apply pressure through public opinion. If CMA have a backbone they won't fall for this.

They where also speaking to Sony yesterday and Sony probably told them to piss off with their offer.

 

[Sircaw]

So as usual in the end it comes down to the CMA. They basically told the CMA yesterday we don't care about what you prefer you will take what we offer you.

The reality must have dawned on them that CMA isn't gonna be happy with whatever behavoruial remedies, so back to the usual pr stunt and trying to apply pressure through public opinion. If CMA have a backbone they won't fall for this.

They where also speaking to Sony yesterday and Sony probably told them to piss off with their offer.

Yep, Microsoft is basically saying we don't give a shit about the regulator's concerns.

Too much power, too much money, too much influence.

We can do whatever the fuck we want!

This almost feels like there is some sort of dystopian feel to this.

Where is my man @Dick Jones, he knows what I am talking about.

 

[FatKaz]

Yep, Microsoft is basically saying we don't give a shit about the regulator's concerns.

Too much power, too much money, too much influence.

We can do whatever the fuck we want!

This almost feels like there is some sort of dystopian feel to this.

Where is my man @Dick Jones, he knows what I am talking about.

If CMA do end up bending to them even with the overwhelming evidence to show they prefer structural remedies. It will truly be a show of a big corp being able to push around the regulators.

The way I look at it is, things aren't going well in the background talks with regulators or they know there arguments are weak, so they are bringing things to the public. Same thing they did with when Sony rejected the 3 year deal.

 

[Puff]

Sony need to lock Square & Capcom If the Acti deal gets approved

 

[Satoru]

From the social media comments yesterday and the constant attacks on Sony, it seems to me like their little stunt with Nvidia and others may have yielded some results, but they are still not in the clear with the EU. The throwing of garbage in Sony's direction, plus the latest and greatest narrative being shared by our resident astroturfer, sound to me like they are getting ready to try and publicly destroy playstation if this doesn't pass.

I still can't see a scenario where the CMA and perhaps even the EU don't accept structural remedies. The comment that kind of gives this away for me is the one where they say there's no deal without Cod, which supposedly was not the target for the acquisition.

 

[FatKaz]

I still can't see a scenario where the CMA and perhaps even the EU don't accept structural remedies. The comment that kind of gives this away for me is the one where they say there's no deal without Cod, which supposedly was not the target for the acquisition.

AFAIK CMA are the only ones that have asked for structural remedies and EC we don't exactly know as the SO isn't available publically.

But structural remedies seem dead as ms have said they won't be going down that path, which may effectively kill the deal. I think ms have given the regulators a bit of ammunition by showing that this was all really about cod.

But regarding structural remedies and the EC I do wonder if they also wanted ms divesting cod, and that conference yesterday was taking aim not just at the CMA but EC

 

[gokuss4]

From the social media comments yesterday and the constant attacks on Sony, it seems to me like their little stunt with Nvidia and others may have yielded some results, but they are still not in the clear with the EU. The throwing of garbage in Sony's direction, plus the latest and greatest narrative being shared by our resident astroturfer, sound to me like they are getting ready to try and publicly destroy playstation if this doesn't pass.

I still can't see a scenario where the CMA and perhaps even the EU don't accept structural remedies. The comment that kind of gives this away for me is the one where they say there's no deal without Cod, which supposedly was not the target for the acquisition.

Most of these accounts on social media especially Twitter are bots
Actually lots of people are against this deal

 

[Gediminas]

Most of these accounts on social media especially Twitter are bots
Actually lots of people are against this deal

It it Depp vs Amber all over again, no?

Media for scummy one. How surprising.

 

[VillaiN]

Once Xbox leaves the console industry all of the bethesda games will come back to PS5 so it will all work out in the end anyways.

After today, no chance in hell MS gets activision.

Xbox is dead. That's a wrap, folks.

Unless they destroy bethesda in meantime. Im scared for elder scrolls adn mayeb fallout. Look at their management and quality of studios.

343 destroyed along with halo ip.
Crystal dynamics helping The Initiative with perfect dark cause that studio seems a joke. I smell cancelled game. Or dismantled studio.
Lucid helping Rare with sea of thieves. Rare has been a joke for 20 years.
Eidos montreal helping Playground with Fable.

Turn 10 didnt ship game in what, 7,8 years. Unable to do anything else. But quality studio.
Mojang only working on minecraft.
Hellblade 2 announced 4 years ago, NT taking time and sweet ms paychecks. We got 2 trailers in 4 years. And people hype Project Mara (CGI staircase).

Compulsion, trash studio.
Undead labs, mediocre studio along with state of decay.
Inxile, medicore studio.
Age of empires, flight simulator re niche studios ips, irrelevant for consoles.
Obsidian, Coalition, Playground re good studios.

 

[Sircaw]

It it Depp vs Amber all over again, no?

Media for scummy one. How surprising.

 

[Zeroing]

Is it over yet?

 

[Shmunter]

Sure it would, unless there was a clause in the terms of sale that compells any game based on that IP to remain on all platforms.
Why isn't there a current gen console version of Minecraft, I wonder?

Speculating the RT mode ran better on PS so it got buried

 

[KiryuRealty]

Sony need to lock Square & Capcom If the Acti deal gets approved

It isn’t getting approved.

How can anyone look at what’s going on and still think it’s going to be approved?