Breaking: UK's CMA investigation has provisionally concluded that "Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision could result in higher prices, fewer

Bryank75

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The revelations in the CMA files shows this kind of business model is not sustainable and Microsoft knew it but was hoping they could buy enough publishers so they would have all the IP’s locked up behind a subscription that they would most definitely increase the price to whatever they want and there would be nothing you can do about it.

A lot of us were savvy enough to have figured that out already and that’s why we don’t support devs through a subscription because that’s not actually helping them or the industry you claim to support grow. Microsoft is teaching its base not to support devs by buying there games (especially on release) which is the most dangerous thing to do to the industry and an insult to all the people who worked on those games that people would refuse to support there games on release until it ends up in a bargain bin somewhere.

Well, you fit right in here.

Great post!

Also, they don't really mention it in the investigation but when I see games in a subscription on Xbox day 1, it completely writes off that game as a purchase anywhere above 10-20 euro. It completely devalues the game and tanks sales...not only limited to Xbox.
 

KiryuRealty

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Where it’s at.
Well, you fit right in here.

Great post!

Also, they don't really mention it in the investigation but when I see games in a subscription on Xbox day 1, it completely writes off that game as a purchase anywhere above 10-20 euro. It completely devalues the game and tanks sales...not only limited to Xbox.
I won’t buy anything that’s day one Game Pass, or any indie that is XBox timed exclusive.

If they took MS’ money to keep their game away from me, they aren’t ever getting my money.
 
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Reminds me of this....


I drove your car into a big wall and if you dont like it, tough. I've had my fun and that's all that matters.
OT but Father Ted is one of the best shows ever made. Pure genius
 
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ethomaz

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The revelations in the CMA files shows this kind of business model is not sustainable and Microsoft knew it but was hoping they could buy enough publishers so they would have all the IP’s locked up behind a subscription that they would most definitely increase the price to whatever they want and there would be nothing you can do about it.

A lot of us were savvy enough to have figured that out already and that’s why we don’t support devs through a subscription because that’s not actually helping them or the industry you claim to support grow. Microsoft is teaching its base not to support devs by buying there games (especially on release) which is the most dangerous thing to do to the industry and an insult to all the people who worked on those games that people would refuse to support there games on release until it ends up in a bargain bin somewhere.
That is the big question.

Gamepass is not profiable and it won't be ever in how it is today.
So I believe MS is just trying (buying) userbase right now.

But what it will be in the future?
Subscription price increase?
No more day one releases?

Of crouse that is something for the future... right now MS is not having the increase in userbase they wished... so I don't know what they will do if not reach the subscription level they need.

Stadia died because the lack of subscriptions.
 

VillaiN

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That is the big question.

Gamepass is not profiable and it won't be ever in how it is today.
So I believe MS is just trying (buying) userbase right now.

But what it will be in the future?
Subscription price increase?
No more day one releases?

Of crouse that is something for the future... right now MS is not having the increase in userbase they wished... so I don't know what they will do if not reach the subscription level they need.

Stadia died because the lack of subscriptions.
They ll never achieve what they want with current strategy. Only way i can see it being sustainable s if they somehow manage to put modified GP version with 1p games on ps5 and switch2. Then split revenue with sony. Sony gets some money and games. Might float without loses with some, 50M subs.
Average android tv, mobile user s not going to keep paying 15,20 bucks for gp. Or play 100s of games. They might get few M of subs but nowhere what they want. They missed stupid high target by tens of millions. That showed everything about xbox management and what they know about industry. And it ll soon raise in price. Few years ago th3y tried doubling live price.

Whole point was to use warchest instead of working hard, buy most of third party publishers, offer crazy low price subscription no one else can offer and starve present(sony) and future(google, amazon, apple...) competition from content.
 

MScarpa

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I don't understand. The only way we are not seeing it in the same way if you don't care about the quality of games. There have been fewer quality experiences in the past 10 years, than the 10 years before that.
That's your opinion and that's okay. I've never had more fun with gaming then I am having right now.
 

One eyed jacks

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Well, you fit right in here.

Great post!

Also, they don't really mention it in the investigation but when I see games in a subscription on Xbox day 1, it completely writes off that game as a purchase anywhere above 10-20 euro. It completely devalues the game and tanks sales...not only limited to Xbox.
Yup. Microsoft is not interested in making good games or innovating with new products like dualsense/psvr2 it’s more interested in just coming along and bulldozing the games industry (via consolidation) so all that’s left is them.
 

KiryuRealty

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Yup. Microsoft is not interested in making good games or innovating with new products like dualsense/psvr2 it’s more interested in just coming along and bulldozing the games industry (via consolidation) so all that’s left is them.
They thought that first XBox would take the market from Sony with almost no effort out into making it anything other than a shitty, locked-down PC that worked on a TV set, so of course they were baffled that they still haven’t cracked that one.
 
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Gediminas

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They thought that first XBox would take the market from Sony with almost no effort out into making it anything other than a shitty, locked-down PC that worked on a TV set, so of course they were baffled that they still haven’t cracked that one.
Yeah, look at nadella, just yesterday he said that look at japan, non existent there so we should be allowed to acquire abk 😂

No shit Sherlock, you put like -100% in that market, what you expect?

By the way, japan approved the deal.
 

AshHunter216

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Yeah, look at nadella, just yesterday he said that look at japan, non existent there so we should be allowed to acquire abk 😂

No shit Sherlock, you put like -100% in that market, what you expect?

By the way, japan approved the deal.
My only worry is that MS try to go after a publisher with IPs that I REALLY care about like Sega or Bandai Namco (or almost any Japanese publisher) after this. Though if the deal is blocked or heavily limited, it may discourage industry consolidation in general, as it sends the message to buyers that there are limits to what you can scoop up.
 
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KiryuRealty

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Yeah, look at nadella, just yesterday he said that look at japan, non existent there so we should be allowed to acquire abk 😂

No shit Sherlock, you put like -100% in that market, what you expect?

By the way, japan approved the deal.
I’m sure the 10 consoles they sell there a week would DOUBLE if they get to buy Activision!
 

Bryank75

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My only worry is that MS try to go after a publisher with IPs that I REALLY care about like Sega or Bandai Namco (or almost any Japanese publisher) after this. Though if the deal is blocked or heavily limited, it may discourage industry consolidation in general, as it sends the message to buyers that there are limits to what you can scoop up.

Yep, it would be an absolute disgrace and I would be disgusted if they got a Japanese developer, in a few years the developer would be dead and the team scattered to the wind and MSFT would lock the IP away out of spite IMO.

They just need to focus on what studios and IpP's they have.
 
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Remij

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Yep, it would be an absolute disgrace and I would be disgusted if they got a Japanese developer, in a few years the developer would be dead and the team scattered to the wind and MSFT would lock the IP away out of spite IMO.

They just need to focus on what studios and IpP's they have.
I think if they bought a Japanese developer, especially one like Bandai Namco or Capcom, they'd be left to work as they always have.. essentially as a separate entity not under any management at Xbox.

I wouldn't mind if Xbox got SEGA... because I feel like SEGA already has a ton of PC focused studios and content which would do well for MS.. but I wouldn't want them to get Capcom, Square, or Namco.. those companies are good as 3rd party. Best way to go about those companies would be to fund 3rd party exclusives from them.
 
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KiryuRealty

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Yep, it would be an absolute disgrace and I would be disgusted if they got a Japanese developer, in a few years the developer would be dead and the team scattered to the wind and MSFT would lock the IP away out of spite IMO.

They just need to focus on what studios and IpP's they have.
All the major Japanese devs and publishers are either part of a protected company or have strategic investments from Sony and/or Nintendo, so MS would really only be able to grab some washed-up hack like Itagaki and set up a new studio, and with how the last attempt at that ended up, I think it’s safe to say it ain’t happening again.
 

One eyed jacks

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My only worry is that MS try to go after a publisher with IPs that I REALLY care about like Sega or Bandai Namco (or almost any Japanese publisher) after this. Though if the deal is blocked or heavily limited, it may discourage industry consolidation in general, as it sends the message to buyers that there are limits to what you can scoop up.
After the complete shitshow of this latest buyout with some highlights including Microsoft sacking off 10,000 people including devs they just purchased and the revelations that gamepass is a blackhole.. the last thing I’d want if I was a studio/publisher is to get purchased by Microsoft.