Injunction hearing has been disastrous for Microsoft and destroyed Xbox's remaining reputation

[Sleepy Brown]

Deal won’t go through. CMA already blocked it. People have to stop thinking they have a chance against the CMA, they don’t.

Wasn’t there a report that MS has a loophole planned around the CMA block?

It’s fake pr fluff. There’s nothing they can actively do to go around the CMA block. META couldn’t acquire giphy and that company don’t even operate in the UK. ABK won’t leave the UK, king is based on the UK. Even if they did, they would still be subjected to the CMA. There’s simply nothing they can do. It’s been over since CMA blocked the deal. The only reason this is still going on is because they have to appease the shareholders else they’ll be sued to hell and heaven.

The deal will definitely go through. Either CMA backs down or MS will close the deal OVER the CMA. They don't care anymore.

Well I wouldn’t worry too much about the outcome of this deal. If gets blocked or approved, Sony will either way act. The document with targets Microsoft wanted to buy, will guaranteed find its way through Jimbo to Sony’s board in Japan. If the deal gets blocked for Microsoft, then MS will try probably after some time passed, to acquire a smaller pub like Ubisoft. Sony probably knows that Microsoft will try on different scenarios to succeed their goal. So the Japanese want get cold feet and give up. Even if people still doubt it, I am confident Sony will acquire one Japanese pub with Square Enix. FFXVI is massive success for just 38 million PS5 user base. No way they will sleep on this opportunity like they previously did with Atlus and From.

Sony won't go after a publisher. They were already sweating when they acquired Bungie. Bungie was literally Sony Group's biggest acquisition ever. But they knew they have to do it to get some GaaS experience. Because Sony thinks their only change to survive against Microsoft's 20+ 1st party studios and multiple publishers is... creating another blockbuster live-service game like Fortnite. That's why 60% of Sony's 1st party budget will go to live-service games. But it won't work. Just look at Destruction Allstars or Predator Hunting Grounds. Even Naughty Dog's TLOU Online game is pretty much dead right now. Sony's future is SIE becoming a 3rd party publisher, creating and publishing games for Xbox, Game Pass, Nintendo, PC and mobile phones.

If/When the acquisition is blocked, I wonder if Microsoft would think, in hindsight, that they should have just walked away when the CMA blocked it.

They won't because they don't care. Just like the majority of gamers don't care. The loud minority on social media and Twitter, the Timdogs, Jaydubs etc. are just..... the minority. Fanboys who don't play games. Their hobbies are Twitter and console warring. The majority of gamers don't even know what the CMA or FTC are, or who Phil Spencer and Jim Ryan are.
They go where the games are.

I don’t think they will get the PI, especially if you’ve been following what the judge has been saying during court.

That's true. They won't get the PI. Especially because the Judge knows that the PI might kill the deal. And her statements and questions at the end of the hearing made that clear. So she won't grant the PI.
It's over.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

You laugh but I believe they will

You laugh but

You laugh but can you really say they don't have the money to kill playstation they definitely have the money & their plan is working so far if they get Activision they'll get sega right after & then go after other maybe square enix

False. With each publisher acquisition, Microsoft's gaming revenue shoots up. With ABK they will already be within spitting distance of PlayStation's revenue, and that's simply through buying their way to said position. Even a smaller 3P like Sega would potentially push them ahead of PlayStation's annual revenue. In such a scenario, Microsoft would be the ones looking like they're gaining a monopoly.

But, unlike Sony, theirs would be through simply buying their way through, rather than earning it with providing the better product to the end market customer, or earning the respect & working relationship of independent 3P developers and publishers. Regulators would easily shut down future publisher acquisitions in that case. It could be grounds for why Sega has divested some things of their business, though, to reduce annual revenue that way it's easier for a company like Microsoft to acquire them. That would fly directly in the face of doing what's in the best interest of shareholders though, as an independent market entity.

Meanwhile if Xbox division revenue doesn't see an expected increase in revenue with ABK under its wing, or drops below where it is currently, regulators can easily use that against Microsoft in acquiring any future publisher. They can just say that MS's acquisitions have a negative impact on the overall console gaming market revenue and that had they not acquired ABK, overall market revenue would have been higher since we already know what ABK can generate as an independent 3P publisher.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

Sony won't go after a publisher. They were already sweating when they acquired Bungie. Bungie was literally Sony Group's biggest acquisition ever. But they knew they have to do it to get some GaaS experience. Because Sony thinks their only change to survive against Microsoft's 20+ 1st party studios and multiple publishers is... creating another blockbuster live-service game like Fortnite. That's why 60% of Sony's 1st party budget will go to live-service games. But it won't work. Just look at Destruction Allstars or Predator Hunting Grounds. Even Naughty Dog's TLOU Online game is pretty much dead right now. Sony's future is SIE becoming a 3rd party publisher, creating and publishing games for Xbox, Game Pass, Nintendo, PC and mobile phones.

Keep clowning yourself pal.

 

[Nhomnhom]

You laugh but can you really say they don't have the money to kill playstation they definitely have the money & their plan is working so far if they get Activision they'll get sega right after & then go after other maybe square enix

They definitely have the money and the will to kill PlayStation, specially if Sony doesn't fight back to force MS's hand. Its all about how freely MS is allowed to spend their money, how much MS is willing to bleed and how much Sony is willing to fight to save PlayStation.

If Sony's vision for their PlayStation division is to just run it as if nothing was happening focusing on just making a profit it's on the way out.

If it gets really ugly (PlayStation buying publishers of their own an MS not gaining significant ground while bleeding money and growing in size) there is a chance that Nadella just gives up, the fact he hasn't despite all the failures of the Xbox division is already impressive.

 

[Would_you_kindly]

They definitely have the money and the will to kill PlayStation, specially if Sony doesn't fight back to force MS's hand. Its all about how freely MS is allowed to spend their money, how much MS is willing to bleed and how much Sony is willing to fight to save PlayStation.

If Sony's vision for their PlayStation division is to just run it as if nothing was happening focusing on just making a profit it's on the way out.

If it gets really ugly (PlayStation buying publishers of their own an MS not gaining significant ground while bleeding money and growing in size) there is a chance that Nadella just gives up.

Someone has to put their foot down & say no more at some point hopefully that point is now

 

[Nitro]

Expectation: documents dooming and outing PlayStation.

Reality: MS is actually the one blocking games from PS+

Yes @Bryank75 ^^^

• Microsoft often requires day one 3rd-party Game Pass titles to not be made available on competing subscription services
• Media silence on many of these new revelations

 

[alphachino]

lol "Rim Ryan", that's a new one

Very interesting read, I don't have much to add other than Fuck XBox, Fuck them right in the a-hole.

 

[Nitro]

• In 2021, Matt Booty wrote there was "no effing way" that Xbox was going to put its original games on competing streaming services. Microsoft switched tracks last minute to placate regulators and appear pro consumer

 

[Bryank75]

• In 2021, Matt Booty wrote there was "no effing way" that Xbox was going to put its original games on competing streaming services. Microsoft switched tracks last minute to placate regulators and appear pro consumer

Added to the OP, thank you for following this up Nitro!

 

[Nitro]

Added to the OP, thank you for following this up Nitro!

• Phil Spencer denied a news report about Microsoft seeking to acquire multiple Japanese developers when he knew the report to be accurate.

 

[Bryank75]

• Phil Spencer denied a news report about Microsoft seeking to acquire multiple Japanese developers when he knew the report to be accurate.

Added.

Forgot who it was but someone in the media had asked him the day before if they had attempted to buy Sega and he was furious that Spencer lied it seems.

 

[Thunderstorm__]

Chances are like 90% that the FTC won't get the injunction. This thing is done. Activision-Blizzard will be a MS company in a few weeks.

"The real ones" you mean the small minority? The loud fanboys on Twitter on Forums, crying about video games instead of playing them? Yeah, they will remember. While the majority plays videogames and go where the games are.
And the games will be on Xbox. Just look at the latest showcases of Sony and Microsoft. Sony had a few CG trailers for trash looking GaaS games and Spider-Man (an IP they don't own) while Microsoft had 10+ 1st party games and Starfield (the biggest game & new IP of the year).
Microsoft bought the studios and a publisher a few years ago and they're finally ready to show their AAA games. Meanwhile Sony is defending terrible looking CG trailers on Twitter.

True. But it will be Capcom after Sega. Not Square-Enix.

PlayStation is doing well RIGHT NOW because of the PS4. Meanwhile Microsoft had to buy new studios, a publisher and had to wait a few years until the AAA games are ready (AAA dev time = 5 - 8 years).
And now look at the last showcases of Sony and Microsoft. Sony had some terrible looking CG trailers for GaaS games and Spider-Man (an IP they don't own) while Microsoft had over 10 1st party games. Sony didn't even have enough games to show in 2022, so they skipped that year.
And it will get worse for Sony after the Activision-Blizzard acquisition. And then MS will get Sega. And then Capcom.
Meanwhile Sony is trying to fight this by playing "lottery". 60% of the Sony 1st party budget goes to GaaS. Because Sony thinks if they struck gold and make another Fortnite, they can fight off Microsoft's 20+ 1st party studios and 3 or 4 publishers.
The end result: It won't happen. The PS6 will be Sony's last console. Then they will go 3rd party and make games for Xbox, Game Pass, Nintendo, PC and mobile phones.
Sony can't compete anymore. All the big MS 1st party games and 3rd party are going to be in the Xbox ecosystem. Nintendo will dominate with the hybrid Switch and their powerful IPs. Sony will make their TLOUs, Ghost of Tsushimas, God of Wars and Horizons (the only active successful AAA IPs they own now) for Xbox, Switch, PC and mobile phones. That's the future and you guys have to accept it. Microsoft isn't playing around anymore and Nintendo can't be stopped in Japan.
It's over for Sony and the PlayStation brand. You know it. They're dying a slow death. It started this year and it will end next-gen with the PS6. That's the reason why you (and Sony) are fighting so hard to get the ABK deal blocked. Because you KNOW what's going to happen. It's over. PlayStation is the next Sega, Commodore 64 and Amiga.

Your wishful gibberish is hilariously pathetic. Why are Xbox fans like this?

 

[alphachino]

Your wishful gibberish is hilariously pathetic. Why are Xbox fans like this?

It's because they're literally paid to do so according to the designer of World of Warcraft

 

[gokuss4]

Your wishful gibberish is hilariously pathetic. Why are Xbox fans like this?

Just Ai bots repeating the same script

 

[PlacidusaX]

Yeah as if the lack of a lineup for XSX wasn't enough... I been strongly considering selling the XSX because of how terrible MS is.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

Yeah as if the lack of a lineup for XSX wasn't enough... I been strongly considering selling the XSX because of how terrible MS is.

Do it. Buy instead a Steam Deck and buy MS games which interest for low from Key retailer. The Steam Deck is cool. There is also a dock for TV meanwhile.

 

[PlacidusaX]

Do it. Buy instead a Steam Deck and buy MS games which interest for low from Key retailer. The Steam Deck is cool. There is also a dock for TV meanwhile.

Don't do portables and it's not powerful enough especially for the price.

The Ally looks better for my tastes but is overpriced/portable.

 

[Would_you_kindly]

Going to be hilarious when Xbox eventually closes that loophole to gamepass cheap & nerfs the rewards points

 

[Nitro]

• Microsoft often requires day one 3rd-party Game Pass titles to not be made available on competing subscription services

Don't forget ^^^ @Bryank75. It's significant given how much press coverage Microsoft received over their Game Pass blocking claims.

Sony's stipulation is limited to co-marketing agreements. Microsoft do this regularly with their 3rd-party contracts.

 

[Swift_Star]

This thread triggered xbots so hard on twitter






Also, they have a really hard time comprehending what they’re reading.
They think you’re talking about how MS performed at the trial… my god, xbots are dumb.