Microsoft's acquisition of Activison Blizzard

nongkris

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EA says they don't care one way or the other what happens during a call with investors.

EA has been a long time shill for Xbox for decades, they probably wish they were the ones being bought out for a premium. All of these multiplatform live and die by Playstation but still kiss Xbox's ass.
 

VillaiN

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Ms has more money so ea, ab kiss their ass.

I have no problem with them buying AB and killing them in process. Garbge publisher who deserve to die. Problem s when does it stop? Idiots can literally destroy industry. Buying and destroying pubs, ips, studios....

What when ms gwts new ceo who doesnt care about gaming? All down the toilet.
 
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thicc_girls_are_teh_best

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It might be very telling that Phil's new PR line is that ABK is "Not their strategy but an accelerant to their strategy ", almost as though they're trying to soften the blow if things ultimately don't go well.
It's also interesting that Google is mentioned as one of the companies that lobby the EU, and they're against the deal.

I don't think that's too surprising TBH; Google want the same things Microsoft want, just for themselves and for Microsoft to not get anything. All of these Big Tech companies hate each other more or less, but they play a lot of the same games when it comes to bribing lobbying and whatnot.

But considering Google's not the one out buying huge 3P publishers (or trying to), them being against Microsoft's attempt to do so just incidentally puts them in a similar camp as companies like Sony when it comes to the issue.

The article feels like an incentive to pump and dump of shares before the inevitable rejection from the EC

Could be; several people ITT have mentioned as such. Regardless, I'm going into it the same way I did with the CMA; expecting the deal to be approved, but ready for my jaw to hit the floor if it's not.

It's all about exit liquidity for institutional investors, nothing to do with morale. It makes bag holders out of the Xbox fanbase, but anyone who got in at 85 a share expecting 95 is already underwater and on their way to insolvency if they over leveraged, like I suspect butthurt baby Florian Mueller did. For a grown man to sound that hysterical and use the language he does ("injustice" in relation to a well measured and rigorous decision by the CMA to block the deal for 10 years), he must be up to his eyeballs in debt.

Guess MS haven't been paying him that well if he's campaigned for them for years but an ABK deal going bust puts him debt.

Or maybe he's just bad with his money. Or has a gambling problem. Wouldn't wish any of that to be the case but like you said, he's become unhinged on Twitter. He's making Lulu look like a professional saint by comparison.
 
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EA being bought would have been preferable. EA's true worth is their sport franchises which they've weaponized in a lot of instances. However the leagues selling the licenses will force 3rd party releases or else (lose them)..... regardless of an acquisition unlike say Battlefield. Sports is what literally keeps them relevant, the golden goose that feeds all other troughs. EA's output is easily replaceable in every other genre EA partakes in besides sports aka they're not a... "can't do without" player. They're also the most toxic of all the American publishers when it comes to business politics and policies, known for pushing their agenda to shape the market and even fuck around with console manufacturers to tilt the balance one way or the other. If there is a publisher I would split in a billion pieces it would be EA. Next best thing would be to unload them into Microsoft to see them wither with their loving strategic partner in crime... as the best option of worst options. They're a trojan horse biding their time for a model shift and can only do damage... they're stagnation personified as well.
 
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AshHunter216

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I don't think that's too surprising TBH; Google want the same things Microsoft want, just for themselves and for Microsoft to not get anything. All of these Big Tech companies hate each other more or less, but they play a lot of the same games when it comes to bribing lobbying and whatnot.

But considering Google's not the one out buying huge 3P publishers (or trying to), them being against Microsoft's attempt to do so just incidentally puts them in a similar camp as companies like Sony when it comes to the issue.



Could be; several people ITT have mentioned as such. Regardless, I'm going into it the same way I did with the CMA; expecting the deal to be approved, but ready for my jaw to hit the floor if it's not.



Guess MS haven't been paying him that well if he's campaigned for them for years but an ABK deal going bust puts him debt.

Or maybe he's just bad with his money. Or has a gambling problem. Wouldn't wish any of that to be the case but like you said, he's become unhinged on Twitter. He's making Lulu look like a professional saint by comparison.
For sure. What I was basically getting at is wondering whether or not Google's influence would have any effect on the EC's decision. A lot had been said about Microsoft's ability and willingness to lobby these regulators to give them what they want, but Google are capable of doing it on that same level and may be lobbying against the deal in a way that's been reported less publicly than Sony's opposition.
 

AshHunter216

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Johnic

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Will Ferrell Lol GIF
 
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Swift_Star

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AshHunter216

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Any notion that they would cave under pressure from the EC is over. Poor @Sleepy Brown
From what I've read, the CAT mostly goes along with what the CMA says and Microsoft would have to come with some really really strong evidence to have any kind of chance with this appeal. I wish the FTC would get out ahead of the EC decision to lower the impact of any potential approval.
 

Gediminas

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In the interim order, the CMA wrote it was "preventing pre-emptive action" from Microsoft or Activision Blizzard.

The order prevents the businesses from acquiring an interest in each other, including their subsidiaries, or businesses that themselves have interest in the companies.

For example:

  • Activision Blizzard could not invest in Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios
  • Microsoft could not invest in Activision Blizzard subsidiaries such as King, the studio that makes hit mobile game Candy Crush Saga
 

Nitro

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It's crazy how much back-pedalling we've seen from Microsoft and their media stooges since the CMA's decision. Ahead of the Xbox 2022 showcase, Microsoft laid out their ambitions to redefine gaming over the next 20 years.

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/06/09/whats-next-for-gaming/

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/06/10/satya-nadella-and-phil-spencer-on-gaming-at-microsoft/

Microsoft's cloud computing platform lay at the heart of their master plan. Satya Nadella openly boasted of their "incredible competitive advantage" in cloud gaming. Phil Spencer said "we see Amazon and Google as the main competitors going forward."

11HbzNq.jpg


The CMA render their decision and suddenly Phil Spencer is not even sure such a market exists. lol
 

AshHunter216

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It's crazy how much back-pedalling we've seen from Microsoft and their media stooges since the CMA's decision. Ahead of the Xbox 2022 showcase, Microsoft laid out their ambitions to redefine gaming over the next 20 years.

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/06/09/whats-next-for-gaming/

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/06/10/satya-nadella-and-phil-spencer-on-gaming-at-microsoft/

Microsoft's cloud computing platform lay at the heart of their master plan. Satya Nadella openly boasted of their "incredible competitive advantage" in cloud gaming. Phil Spencer said "we see Amazon and Google as the main competitors going forward."

11HbzNq.jpg


The CMA render their decision and suddenly Phil Spencer is not even sure such a market exists. lol
I'm glad at least one group noticed the receipts.
 
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Gediminas

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21 Jun 2022
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It's crazy how much back-pedalling we've seen from Microsoft and their media stooges since the CMA's decision. Ahead of the Xbox 2022 showcase, Microsoft laid out their ambitions to redefine gaming over the next 20 years.

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/06/09/whats-next-for-gaming/

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2021/06/10/satya-nadella-and-phil-spencer-on-gaming-at-microsoft/

Microsoft's cloud computing platform lay at the heart of their master plan. Satya Nadella openly boasted of their "incredible competitive advantage" in cloud gaming. Phil Spencer said "we see Amazon and Google as the main competitors going forward."

11HbzNq.jpg


The CMA render their decision and suddenly Phil Spencer is not even sure such a market exists. lol
Xbots also praised it as 4d move and how m$ ahead of everyone.
Now, after deal is blocked, they acting like victims with gold fish memory..