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

Do you believe the deal will be approved?


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I was wondering where Riky went.
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Come on Three, you're better than this. "Withholding updates" is a very childish fear mongering statement, nothing else.

They haven't withheld any updates or patches from ongoing games on any console from first party IPs like Fallout 76, Skyrim Anniversary stuff, Deathloop's Golden Update with the new ending, Minecraft.
Minecraft they have already withheld updates with the bedrock update, and deathloop we discussed. Not sure Fallout 76 is a good example to use, it didn't get a next gen patch did it? In fact I think I remember everyone complaining it's 60fps on xbox series x but 2 years later 30fps on PS5 with owners complaining:


Skyrim Anniversary I'm not sure what the update was but that's good to hear. I digress anyway and I hope you are right, rival platform support post acquisitions has not been the best though.
Why would they withhold updates to war zone when it's cross play and that would mean PlayStation players couldn't join in with other gamers?

There is no narrative to do that
Nobody is talking about stuff that would prevent players from playing with eachother.
 
Minecraft they have already withheld updates with the bedrock update, and deathloop we discussed. Not sure Fallout 76 is a good example to use, it didn't get a next gen patch did it? In fact I think I remember everyone complaining it's 60fps on xbox series x but 2 years later 30fps on PS5 with owners complaining:


Skyrim Anniversary I'm not sure what the update was but that's good to hear. I digress anyway and I hope you are right, rival platform support post acquisitions has not been the best though.

Nobody is talking about stuff that would prevent players from playing with eachother.



For Minecraft, that game always looked/ran better on PS5 compared to SX, the new updates are probably to bring them in line. I'm not certain 100% as I don't play minecraft, but in terms of content both the versions are in content parity even if the PS5 version is enhanced BC.

Fallout 76 doesn't have a next gen patch on either console and its the FPS boost that lets you run that game at 60 albeit with a huge reduction in resolution, that's more of an Xbox system level thing and has nothing to do with the developer holding anything back.

The rest is all in parity with each other. Warzone makes tons of money in monetization, MS would not be stupid enough to not keep all versions in parity, especially as they have cross-play.
 
So it should be up to the competition to step it up not for the UK to stifle competitors. That's how innovation gets done.
A lot of people think that one of these companies should actually innovate instead of just setting themselves up to take things away from people. They would also say that is how innovation goes.
 
A lot of people think that one of these companies should actually innovate instead of just setting themselves up to take things away from people. They would also say that is how innovation goes.
And that's how "stepping up to be competitive" goes. But hey, they put out a silly PR statement, so wallet flexing from the daddy division is now innovative and "competition."
 
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The first question it tackled was whether or not the acquisition would result in Xbox making Call of Duty exclusive ("foreclosing," by CMA terminology), something Microsoft has said it has no intention of doing, but is only committing to keep on PlayStation for several years.

"Financial modelling of the merger suggests that the merged entity's incentive to foreclose Sony may be considerably stronger than suggested by the parties," the CMA determined.

"Microsoft's past business practices suggest that it may be willing to make losses in the short term in order to build scale and increase its user base," it continued, noting that Microsoft has previously acquired multiplatform publishers and made their games exclusive.

It also dismissed arguments that Microsoft would keep Call of Duty multiplatform simply to avoid publicly backlash, saying it "did not identify any persuasive evidence that Microsoft would be deterred from engaging in total or partial foreclosure strategies by the prospect of reputational damage to Xbox or [Call of Duty]."

Given how an exclusive Call of Duty could shape consumer decisions around which console to buy, the CMA determined that it would impact Sony' ability to compete with Microsoft, which "would have a detrimental impact on overall competition in the market and ultimately harm consumers."

While the CMA said it was examining the impact the acquisition might have on competition more generally, Sony's clear status as Microsoft's closest rival in a "highly concentrated" console market deserved specific consideration. While it acknowledged Nintendo's role in the market, it noted the company offered "differentiated" hardware, with more family-friendly software.
 
A lot of people think that one of these companies should actually innovate instead of just setting themselves up to take things away from people. They would also say that is how innovation goes.
A lot of people think you shouldn't moneyhat publishing deals to take things away from people too. They would also say that is how innovation goes.

The CMAs pov on this is a weird take as it seems designed to protect one company at the expense of competition not to spur competition and innovation.
 
God damn, I was like 90% sure this was gonna go through with concessions but I'm slightly starting to lean towards this being blocked now going by their response. Didn't expect this.
Parties who want to weigh in on the issues statement have until October 28 to respond to the CMA in writing.
Exactly 2 weeks from now.
 
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How would this work though? I go and buy a years subscription of GPU on the MS store. I go on a PS5 6 months later and log in? What now? How would they get a percentage in this model? The only way is if you tie purchases to the console but we all know how that turned out with people complaining about Fortnite.
Ms could pay a cut for each user tat used game pass on a ps, or would pay depending on how much they use the service on ps, they could even pay a small percent for each user, etc. there are many ways
 
A lot of people think you shouldn't moneyhat publishing deals to take things away from people too. They would also say that is how innovation goes.
That's an open playing field that they all have the same opportunity to do so, in which MS partakes in as well. In the end, the publishers/developers are to blame for putting the moneyhat marketing up for sale.

Buying up the largest 3rd party publishers just to keep decades of third party games off the competition while spinning PR about "expanding them to more gamers...." now that's a load of shit.

The CMAs pov on this is a weird take as it seems designed to protect one company at the expense of competition not to spur competition and innovation.
Is "innovation" the new updated buzzword coming out of the tribal circles? What's innovative about your non gaming division bankrolling the largest publishers to keep them off competitors platforms?
 
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"Microsoft's past business practices suggest that it may be willing to make losses in the short term in order to build scale and increase its user base," it continued, noting that Microsoft has previously acquired multiplatform publishers and made their games exclusive.

CMA talking out of their ass
I'm just about to preorder Starfield on my PlayStat.. Nani!?
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Oh and back on topic




It also dismissed arguments that Microsoft would keep Call of Duty multiplatform simply to avoid publicly backlash, saying it "did not identify any persuasive evidence that Microsoft would be deterred from engaging in total or partial foreclosure strategies by the prospect of reputational damage to Xbox or [Call of Duty]."


Phil: "We promise to keep CoD on PS for many years"
CMA "We did not identify any persuasive evidence"

🤷‍♂️

CMA talking out of their ass
I'm just about to preorder Starfield on my PlayStat.. Nani!?
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How can you pre-order something that was never announced for a platform in the first place :pie_thinking:
 
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Here is the full statement:

Hmmmm

"(i) Microsoft has previously acquired publishers and made their upcoming games exclusive to Xbox, even when those publishers had previously made their content available to all consoles, and (ii) Microsoft has pursued this strategy when acquiring content that is far less valuable than Activision's games, and hence far less likely to divert customers to its console."

Wow. Making Bethesda games exclusive might bite Microsoft in the ass.
 
How can you pre-order something that was never announced for a platform in the first place :pie_thinking:
You know why it was never announced on any platforms like Bethesda/ZeniMax traditionally does? Because MS already had submitted the offer to buy them, since this stuff takes months and months until officially announced. Otherwise, it would have been on all platforms. Let's not be purposely obtuse in the gaming arena.
 
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You know why it was never announced on any platforms like Bethesda/ZeniMax traditionally does? Because MS already had submitted the offer to buy them, since this stuff takes months and months until officially announced. Otherwise, it would have been on all platforms. Let's not be purposely obtuse in the gaming arena.

Let's not, but it's a phantom version that never existed, let's not keep using it as a crutch/gotcha either.

It belongs on the shelf next to the Xbox One version of Street Fighter V.
 
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Let's not, but let's also not keep hammering home a phantom version that has never existed in the first place.

It belongs on the shelf next to the Xbox One version of Street Fighter V.
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One day we are going to see source code/videos/screenshots just like all other cancelled behind the scenes games for other platforms that leaked years down the line.

Oh and on that note, so which is it? Sony was paying for exclusivity, or it never existed? You guys need to keep up with your circles influencer PR feeds.
 
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Let's not, but it's a phantom version that never existed, let's not keep using it as a crutch/gotcha either.

It belongs on the shelf next to the Xbox One version of Street Fighter V.

but i thought microsoft bought bethesda because sony were trying to get timed exclusivity for starfield? thats what you guys said! see how your own bullshit collapses back on itself?
 
Here is the full statement:

Hmmmm

"(i) Microsoft has previously acquired publishers and made their upcoming games exclusive to Xbox, even when those publishers had previously made their content available to all consoles, and (ii) Microsoft has pursued this strategy when acquiring content that is far less valuable than Activision's games, and hence far less likely to divert customers to its console."

Wow. Making Bethesda games exclusive might bite Microsoft in the ass.

Responses to this issues statement
51. Any party wishing to respond to this issues statement should do so in writing, no
later than Friday 28 October 2022 by emailing ***.
Posting their email may not be the wisest thing to do. I wonder how many fanboys are now sending mails to that address
 
but i thought microsoft bought bethesda because sony were trying to get timed exclusivity for starfield? thats what you guys said! see how your own bullshit collapses back on itself?

Sony was buying timed exclusivity for all of their games and if Starfield were ever announced for a PS console, it very likely would have been a timed exclusive.

But it never came to it so 🤷‍♂️
 
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Let's not, but it's a phantom version that never existed, let's not keep using it as a crutch/gotcha either.

It belongs on the shelf next to the Xbox One version of Street Fighter V.

Don't worry, I'm sure the CMA will have the means to be able to find out whether or not a Playstation ever existed at any point.

If there happens to be a fire at any of Bethesda's offices or a server failure any time soon we know why.
 
Don't worry, I'm sure the CMA will have the means to be able to find out whether or not a Playstation ever existed at any point.

If there happens to be a fire at any of Bethesda's offices or a server failure any time soon we know why.

Todd is too nice of a guy to ever do that.
 
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Here is the full statement:

Hmmmm

"(i) Microsoft has previously acquired publishers and made their upcoming games exclusive to Xbox, even when those publishers had previously made their content available to all consoles, and (ii) Microsoft has pursued this strategy when acquiring content that is far less valuable than Activision's games, and hence far less likely to divert customers to its console."

Wow. Making Bethesda games exclusive might bite Microsoft in the ass.
How is that different from Sony buying insomniac and making spiderman exclusive.
 
That's an open playing field that they all have the same opportunity to do so, in which MS partakes in as well. In the end, the publishers/developers are to blame for putting the moneyhat marketing up for sale.

Buying up the largest 3rd party publishers just to keep decades of third party games off the competition while spinning PR about "expanding them to more gamers...." now that's a load of shit.


Is "innovation" the new updated buzzword coming out of the tribal circles? What's innovative about your non gaming division bankrolling the largest publishers to keep them off competitors platforms?
The open field field also includes each companies ability to acquire smaller companies. MS has done so, albeit with bigger publishers than Sony. Nintendo hasn't done as much, but yet remains very competitive and in dollar per dollar expenditure, probably exceeds it's bigger rivals.

I stand by stance that IF the sale goes through and they decide to pull the plug immediatley after the rights to do so makes it possible, that is perfectly fine and well within their pervue to do so as the owner of the company and IP. Comments on whatever PR each company engages in is besides the point. As is whether they do expand or don't. I don't think it makes good business sense to contract your platforms, but they can do it.

Innovation comes in a lot of ways. I'd argue XCloud, PS+, PSVR1/PSVR2/Kinect/Switch (portable and console modes), Wii Motion, etc are all ways that companies have innovated and set each other apart from one another. Sony has many ways to innovate and have done so. Even if the ABK deals goes through without any concessions, they will still be a company that has the potential to remain the market leader for years to come.

I still haven't seen a reason why any regulating body would not approve this deal. It doesn't make MS a monopoly and while it will hurt Sony, because some gamers will choose to switch consoles for that "free" CoD releases, that isn't a reason for denial of the deal. I still haven't seen a compelling reason even IF it would take a game that has been on a competitors platform for decades.
 
I stand by stance that IF the sale goes through and they decide to pull the plug immediatley after the rights to do so makes it possible, that is perfectly fine and well within their pervue to do so as the owner of the company and IP.

And then the CMA can order Microsoft to sell Activision Blizzard immediately after that.

I still haven't seen a reason why any regulating body would not approve this deal. It doesn't make MS a monopoly and while it will hurt Sony, because some gamers will choose to switch consoles for that "free" CoD releases, that isn't a reason for denial of the deal. I still haven't seen a compelling reason even IF it would take a game that has been on a competitors platform for decades.

CMA is giving you reasons they might not approve this deal. You may not agree with them (I don't agree with many of them), but that's what this is.
 
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I still haven't seen a reason why any regulating body would not approve this deal.
CMA has literally been listing items of concern or in their words, "theories of harm." Read the thread.

Now whether that prevents them from approving or not, remains to be seen. They can still approve for all we know, but, this deal isn't so cut and dry squeaky clean that one camp seems to want to propagate online.
 
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CMA has literally been listing items of concern or in their words, "theories of harm." Read the thread.

Now whether that prevents them from approving or not, remains to be seen. They can still approve for all we know, but, this deal isn't so cut and dry squeaky clean that one camp seems to want to propagate online.
I have read it. Just disagree with their assessments so far.
 
Spider-man was exclusive to PlayStation before Sony ever bought Insomniac.

Spiderman is not exclusive to Sony video games. Spiderman is in the lego games and was in marvel alliance 3 on switch.

Insomniac were asked which marvel character they'd like to make a game of and chose spiderman.
 
And then the CMA can order Microsoft to sell Activision Blizzard immediately after that.



CMA is giving you reasons they might not approve this deal. You may not agree with them (I don't agree with many of them), but that's what this is.
Got it.
I wonder if that would hold up in court as I don't know if they have that authority to enforce.

Yea, and needless to say I don't agree with the CMA and impatiently waiting for the day to get a decision one or another.
 
Got it.
I wonder if that would hold up in court as I don't know if they have that authority to enforce.

Yea, and needless to say I don't agree with the CMA and impatiently waiting for the day to get a decision one or another.

They do have the authority. They ordered Meta to sell Giphy after Giphy had been acquired. It is still under appeal, but a tribunal ruled the CMA was well within its authority to do so.
 
Minecraft they have already withheld updates with the bedrock update, and deathloop we discussed. Not sure Fallout 76 is a good example to use, it didn't get a next gen patch did it? In fact I think I remember everyone complaining it's 60fps on xbox series x but 2 years later 30fps on PS5 with owners complaining:


Skyrim Anniversary I'm not sure what the update was but that's good to hear. I digress anyway and I hope you are right, rival platform support post acquisitions has not been the best though.

Nobody is talking about stuff that would prevent players from playing with eachother.



you said not putting out updates for war zone, that would make the game unopayable cross platform because one would be more advanced than the other. its getting more silly every time
 
Spiderman is not exclusive to Sony video games. Spiderman is in the lego games and was in marvel alliance 3 on switch.

Insomniac were asked which marvel character they'd like to make a game of and chose spiderman.

Ok? You do realize that you are giving more reasons why this isn't comparable whatsoever, right?

And by the way...this is also you:

How is that different from Sony buying insomniac and making spiderman exclusive.

Come On Reaction GIF by MOODMAN
 
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