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

Do you believe the deal will be approved?

  • Yes, will be approved without changes.

    Votes: 221 24.9%

  • Yes, will be approved but with structural changes to ABK.

    Votes: 102 11.5%

  • Yes, will be approved but only with behavioral concessions.

    Votes: 262 29.6%

  • No, will not be approved.

    Votes: 301 34.0%
  • Total voters
    886
  • Poll closed .
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Topher said:
I'm a huge basketball fan and I don't think I've ever seen a guy like Shaquille O'Neal whose demeanor on the court and off the court was so dramatically different.

Sorry.....off-topic observation. Where were we? Um.....fuck the FTC? Sony? AB? MS? Fuck'em all? Yeah....fuck'em all.
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Yeah love Shaq and love even more my Alma Mater put him out of the NCAA tourney in 1992

And yeah fuck em all :)

I only posted that btw as these acquisitions have been going on as long as these companies have been making games so this isn't stopping it before it gets started

This is just on a whole different scale

And if someone says thats the problem its the size then who gets to decide when its too big?
 
feynoob said:
Does that mean the FTC had a chance with that case?
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It means the judge dismissed their case because the FTC failed to prove their case. FTC can now review and appeal the dismissal. Considering the judge's comments regarding the evidence presented by the FTC outlined in the article - it'll be interesting if they do appeal or just it go.
 
DeepEnigma said:
The size isn't the issue, the consolidation of the industry and the race to the bottom is.
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Consolidation of the industry is inevitable at this point.

Current trajectory of continuing to raise prices on games ($70+) and expecting same results and customers to bear the brunt of it year over year is unsustainable.

If this deal doesn't go through - Activision will still be looking to sell and another company will look to purchase all or part of the company regardless.
 
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HeisenbergFX4 said:
Yeah love Shaq and love even more my Alma Mater put him out of the NCAA tourney in 1992
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I figured you were a Hoosier based on previous convos. My Alma Mater (Auburn) put him out of the SEC tournament two years in a row. Pretty massive feat for a program that was largely the doormat of SEC basketball. :messenger_sunglasses:


And yeah fuck em all :)

I only posted that btw as these acquisitions have been going on as long as these companies have been making games so this isn't stopping it before it gets started

This is just on a whole different scale

And if someone says thats the problem its the size then who gets to decide when its too big?
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That's where the government comes in, it would seem.
 
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feynoob said:
The consequences would be massive.

People who praise Activision being on gamepass don't understand what does this lead to.

Imagine Sony buying take 2. It would mean no GTA for Xbox or even worse no GTA or RD on gamepass anymore.

Even if they Sony doesn't buy them, another company or other publishers, and their games won't be on gamepass.
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If ABK wants to sell, which they do, then even if MS doesn't buy them, someone else is going to. So yeah, people looking forward to ABK on GamePass do understand what it leads to.

AFAIK Take-Two doesn't want to sell. If somehow Sony did buy them, maybe they'd release GTA on other platforms, maybe not. We know MS is prepared to continue with CoD as is, so it's a weak example to try and make.
 
jaysius said:
Only so much can fit, you'd need a really deep cave to accommodate length.

Also I guess it speaks volumes, as do all the people that say they like things tight, those people are quiet tiny, true tightness is painful if you're big.
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Cringe Reaction GIF
 
Bumblebeetuna said:
If ABK wants to sell, which they do, then even if MS doesn't buy them, someone else is going to. So yeah, people looking forward to ABK on GamePass do understand what it leads to.

AFAIK Take-Two doesn't want to sell. If somehow Sony did buy them, maybe they'd release GTA on other platforms, maybe not. We know MS is prepared to continue with CoD as is, so it's a weak example to try and make.
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The point is, people who cheer for Activision gamepass, would lose those in the process.
 
akimbo009 said:
What.... How? Cause you think so?
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MS deal gets them Activision games for gamepass.
Sony buys big publisher, which would mean no gamepass for those publishers.
3rd parties buy other publishers and make their own subscription, which would lead to no gamepass.

Its like an avalanche of exclusives for subscription services.
What once was a great for consumers, is now a nightmare.
 
feynoob said:
Again for the last time, you do not own Activision.

Your job as a consumer, is to consume.

MS is the one that would own Activision. And the rights to do whatever they want to.

You as the consumer can decide to leave gamepass and Xbox platforms, if you don't like their directions. In the end, there is no benefit for you.
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Sony don't own Activision either. Activision want to be bought and Microsoft made an offer. simple as that.Same as bungie wanting to be bought and Sony offers the money.

as I said earlier I own both platforms and I am happy if they do buy them as a consumer I can either buy the game still or get it on gamepass.

your a consumer to and it is your choice to purchase what ever console you want or PC.
 
feynoob said:
MS deal gets them Activision games for gamepass.
Sony buys big publisher, which would mean no gamepass for those publishers.
3rd parties buy other publishers and make their own subscription, which would lead to no gamepass.

Its like an avalanche of exclusives for subscription services.
What once was a great for consumers, is now a nightmare.
Click to expand...

So, fortune telling.
 
phil_t98 said:
Sony don't own Activision either. Activision want to be bought and Microsoft made an offer. simple as that.Same as bungie wanting to be bought and Sony offers the money.
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"Do we have a first grade teacher here? Someone needs to learn how to read.".
MS is the one that would own Activision. And the rights to do whatever they want to.
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phil_t98 said:
as I said earlier I own both platforms and I am happy if they do buy them as a consumer I can either buy the game still or get it on gamepass.
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You are a "consumer". It doesn't matter if you own multiple devices or not.

MS is the one that dictates what they will do with Activision games. Gamepass or not, selling or not. You will act based on their decision.
If they said, no to selling and only exclusive to gamepass, that would be your only option to get them.

phil_t98 said:
your a consumer to and it is your choice to purchase what ever console you want or PC.
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And MS decides where to get get their games from. They are the owner, and final decision rest on them.

akimbo009 said:
So, fortune telling.
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People said that about Netflix. And look where we are now.
 
feynoob said:
Also meta lawyers are doing some big jobs against FTC.
Idas.
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They're about to be 0-7 they're just doing this to be political. They'll lose against Microsoft as well. I just don't see how Lina survives after they lose this the summer case as the Supreme Court and Microsoft. It's so dumb instead of actually sitting down and working on a deal of at least solutions or in writing binding agreements with Microsoft.
 
feynoob said:
MS deal gets them Activision games for gamepass.
Sony buys big publisher, which would mean no gamepass for those publishers.
3rd parties buy other publishers and make their own subscription, which would lead to no gamepass.

Its like an avalanche of exclusives for subscription services.
What once was a great for consumers, is now a nightmare.
Click to expand...
Publishers will keep selling games and also the same shit that's happening on the video side will probably happen in gaming where content providers are either merging or going back to re-selling content to the subscription providers where it makes sense to.

Imo people complaining about having too many subscriptions kinda forget their power, unless we live in a world where you have to sign up for X months of a service, access to TV is better than we had it 10-15 years ago (at least in the UK) where you have to sign up for a set amount of time. Nowadays you have the ability to turn on and off services.

just on the point about 'consumers' benefiting, I think you could argue that a set of consumers benefit and that set may not be represent of the entire consumer base.
 
feynoob said:
People said that about Netflix. And look where we are now.
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Where's that? There's more competition than ever in the streaming space, and so much content it's bonkers. I don't actually know what your point here is, but if you're saying the innovation in the video streaming space is what we would see in the gaming I am pretty sure that'd be a positive outcome.

reksveks said:
Publishers will keep selling games and also the same shit that's happening on the video side will probably happen in gaming where content providers are either merging or going back to re-selling content to the subscription providers where it makes sense to.

Imo people complaining about having too many subscriptions kinda forget their power, unless we live in a world where you have to sign up for X months of a service, access to TV is better than we had it 10-15 years ago (at least in the UK) where you have to sign up for a set amount of time. Nowadays you have the ability to turn on and off services.

just on the point about 'consumers' benefiting, I think you could argue that a set of consumers benefit and that set may not be represent of the entire consumer base.
Click to expand...

It's almost like they have TOO much choice :D
 
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TheGodfather07 said:
Even though this benefits my wallet as a gamepass subscriber, I still don't want it to go through. I would rather 3rd party publishers stay 3rd party and things like this are killed before they even begin. Otherwise all hell will break loose and every publisher will be bought out. Stop it before it even begins.
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HeisenbergFX4 said:
Yeah love Shaq and love even more my Alma Mater put him out of the NCAA tourney in 1992

And yeah fuck em all :)

I only posted that btw as these acquisitions have been going on as long as these companies have been making games so this isn't stopping it before it gets started

This is just on a whole different scale

And if someone says thats the problem its the size then who gets to decide when its too big?
Click to expand...
This point is why this deal needs to be stopped. This goes through and there is no such thing as too big. This is the precedent this will be the standard.

Now, a sick, demented, twisted, evil, despicable, vile, malcontent, (more bad words) part of me wants to see this go through, just to see what happens next.

People are saying other companies cannot or do not want to be bought out simply don't understand business.


Edited to add: Stop debating with people that are comparing Sony buying Bungie to Microsoft attempting to purchase Activision.
 
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ManaByte said:
Nah, Tencent is MAGNITUDES bigger and is actively buying up US companies and putting them under the eye of the CCP. But the FTC won't dare touch them because China fills thier pockets well.
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The US should pass laws that communist/rogue states should not be allowed to buy up land or companies. Similar to Japan, I say. But, America has been up for sale for well over 100+ years.
 
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ManaByte said:
Nah, Tencent is MAGNITUDES bigger and is actively buying up US companies and putting them under the eye of the CCP. But the FTC won't dare touch them because China fills thier pockets well.
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Last I checked the US owed China 970 billion or something dumb like that. Shouldn't have happened and is ridiculous. There are a lot of things the US allows China to get away with for..... reasons.
 
reksveks said:
is partially ownership included cause Tencent and Netease are buying their way in Japan.

Also the US already as a system to deal with questionable foreign owners in CFIUS, right?
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And how has that been working out? Underutilized since it's all lobbying, fundraising, superPAC, etc. corruption.
 
DeepEnigma said:
And how has that been working out? Underutilized since it's all lobbying, fundraising, superPAC, etc. corruption.
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Underutlized because it's typically hard to justify the expulsion of Chinese ownership without security concerns (the big times its gotten used was around security and gaming doesn't fall into that), Also unfortunately we live in a global economy where we are reliant on shitty and corrupt governments so blackballing China will just lead to major issues but too big a topic for me at the moment but the EU aren't too happy with the US's actions re: China (https://thediplomat.com/2019/11/assessing-the-eu-china-us-triangle/).

also circle back to the first bit about Japan, is Japan much better with their laws?
 
reksveks said:
Underutlized because it's typically hard to justify the expulsion of Chinese ownership without security concerns (the big times its gotten used was around security and gaming doesn't fall into that), Also unfortunately we live in a global economy where we are reliant on shitty and corrupt governments so blackballing China will just lead to major issues but too big a topic for me at the moment but the EU aren't too happy with the US's actions re: China (https://thediplomat.com/2019/11/assessing-the-eu-china-us-triangle/).

also circle back to the first bit about Japan, is Japan much better with their laws?
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www.cnbc.com

Japan to limit foreign ownership of firms in its tech and telecom sectors

The new rule, effective Aug. 1, comes amid heightening pressure from the United States in dealing with cyber-security risks and technological transfers involving China.
www.cnbc.com www.cnbc.com
  • The law requires foreign investors to report to the Japanese government and undergo inspection in case they buy 10% or more of stocks in listed Japanese companies or acquire shares of unlisted firms.
  • The Japanese government made no mention of specific countries or companies that will be impacted by applying existing foreign ownership restrictions to the IT and telecoms industries.
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Tech is a major security threat/loophole in a tech connected world.
 
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DeepEnigma said:
Tech is a major security threat/loophole in a tech connected world.
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Didn't say it wasn't and that's why i understood the concerns around Huawei from both the UK/US government although they probably could been a bit more convince re the security concerns when they did it.

The US has similarly passed FIRMMA in 2018 which gave CFIUS much more powers to look into foreign ownership of companies that are in industries with national security concerns. More recently Biden passed a EO to add a couple more industries to their mandate.

Also posted those bullet points without comparison to the current CFIUS powers isn't the most helpful. Also gaming companies even in the Japanese system are on a different tier of 'restrictions' than Tech/IT companies.

Think it's enough of a detour though.
 
Pelta88 said:
Well thought out post with some solid with good points.

To me, this acquisition is a double-edged sword for Microsoft. In their capitulation to regulators they have made public just how poor a state XBOX as a platform is. GP/CLOUD and presence as a console are not in a great state. Which makes the purchase of COD a huge risk. Microsoft self admitted they can't compete with PS quality... Just imagine if PS turns their attention to the FPS market and goes all in on a COD rival. In fact, don't imagine. If they lose COD they will build their own.

Most of the conversation is hinged on COD never being surpassed. But If you play COD, you know it can be surpassed.
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Completely agree with the "double-edge" sword. Just imagine if CoD gets taken away and PlayStation is at risk of losing $1b per year between CoD sales/mtx revenues and PS+ subs and they decided to take a PlayStation exclusive FPS (even a quick KZ4 reboot as KZ5) and put up that $1b as shared prize money in an e-sport competition with even the 1,000th competitor walking away with new car money.

The revenue alone from sales of KZ5 + PS+ would likely be in the CoD money leagues and even if the total venture lost them $500m per year, it would still be $500m less than they would lose anyway, and at least dent CoD's position massively in terms of playerbase bandwidth

Being in the top 1000 players in the world at KZ5 would look manageable to most CoD gamers, I suspect and that big money pot would probably have gamers buying the KZ update, year after year to try and get some of it.

PlayStation's biggest issue would be that it would rightfully put the independent 3rd party publishers' noses out of joint, which is probably why they haven't looked to seriously topple CoD with a first party game, already, because 3rd parties are business partners and it is the platform's responsibility to provide them with CoD sized opportunities of success, rather than take them for themselves, but this deal is so bad for the industry that maybe 3rd parties would just have to wear it until circumstances changed.
 
feynoob said:
The point is, people who cheer for Activision gamepass, would lose those in the process.
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Would lose what? So I, a GamePass subscriber who primarily games on Xbox and PC with small amounts of Switch and PS4 thrown in, should not be excited about the idea of getting the ABK past and future catalog in GamePass because… maybe Sony might one day potentially buy Take-Two? So a publisher who is not for sale might potentially be bought by a company who it would be a terrible financial investment for them to buy, and then you're also assuming they'll double down on that terrible investment by making GTA exclusive?

It's the same doomsday nonsense we hear any time something big in the industry is happening. Just hopes and dreams and maybes. Like I said, dinosaurs. At least you aren't tapping into delusions like some of the others, just crystal balls.
 
Guys. Even if you are a super hardcore Sony fan...you gotta see that this deal is good for everyone. In fact; you could even see this deal as big trap for Xbox (if that makes you less "concern")

So far, not even a single sentence against this deal has made sense.
 
ChorizoPicozo said:
Guys. Even if you are a super hardcore Sony fan...you gotta see that this deal is good for everyone. In fact; you could even see this deal as big trap for Xbox (if that makes you less "concern")

So far, not even a single sentence against this deal has made sense.
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The only redeeming thing about this deal is no Facebook/tencent/Google or Amazon.
 
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