Support NeoGAF

[Fess]

I told you, the AIs are taking over.

AI is better than that.

AI:
It is not uncommon for video game companies to acquire other companies or franchises, and it is possible that Microsoft could potentially acquire Activision Blizzard and make Call of Duty an exclusive title for the Xbox.

However, it is worth noting that the success of a video game console is not solely dependent on any one particular game or franchise. There are many factors that contribute to the success of a console, such as the overall quality of the hardware, the range of available games and applications, the accessibility of the platform, and the marketing and branding efforts of the company.

Additionally, the video game industry is highly competitive, and there are many other successful game franchises and platforms that could potentially serve as alternatives for players who are interested in Call of Duty. As such, it is difficult to predict with certainty how the acquisition of Activision Blizzard and the exclusivity of Call of Duty on Xbox would impact the overall success of the Playstation.

It is possible that Microsoft could allow Call of Duty to be released on Playstation as a cross-platform title, meaning that it would be available to play on both the Xbox and the Playstation. In the past, there have been many examples of cross-platform games that have been released on multiple consoles.

However, it is also possible that Microsoft could decide to make Call of Duty an exclusive title for the Xbox, meaning that it would only be available to play on that particular platform. This is a common strategy that companies sometimes use in order to differentiate their product offerings and potentially attract more players to their platform.

Ultimately, the decision to release a game as a cross-platform title or as an exclusive title is up to the game publisher and the specific terms of any agreements that are in place with the console manufacturer. It is not possible to say for certain what Microsoft's plans for Call of Duty would be if they were to acquire Activision Blizzard.

It is possible that an acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft could be reviewed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to determine whether or not it would violate antitrust laws or harm competition in the market.

The FTC is a federal agency responsible for protecting consumers and promoting competition in the marketplace. As part of this role, the FTC reviews proposed mergers and acquisitions between companies to ensure that they do not result in the creation of monopolies or other anticompetitive practices that could harm consumers.

If the FTC determines that an acquisition would violate antitrust laws or harm competition, it can take action to block the acquisition or impose conditions on it in order to mitigate any potential harm to competition. However, it is important to note that the decision to block an acquisition is ultimately up to the FTC, and would depend on the specific circumstances of the case.


- We’re not needed anymore!

 

[Pelta88]

Khan on the "Promises" and spin about it being for the children.

 

[feynoob]

I think the AI are getting little bit smarter

 

[Ezekiel_]

Not quite. There is a pending Supreme Court case Axon. Vs FTC where companies are fighting for the right to take their cases directly to federal court to determine if their mergers are actually illegal. Since the administrative courts can be overruled by the politically appointed members who brought the charges, it is a poor place to determine if an acquisition is actually illegal.

Hummmm... I wonder how supreme Court judges are appointed...

 

[feynoob]

Hummmm... I wonder how supreme Court judges are appointed...

Don't know man.
You either have to be A or B to be appointed. With C having less votes.

 

[SlimySnake]

All this text on a no-news day...

They funniest part is that they are on the SAME TEAM. This is the greatest civil war since 1865.

 

[Pelta88]

They funniest part is that they are on the SAME TEAM. This is the greatest civil war since 1865.

People are on their mobile phones talking to and asking A.I. about the acquisition.

Like that isn't weird as hell

 

[feynoob]

They funniest part is that they are on the SAME TEAM. This is the greatest civil war since 1865.

I posted 2 news yesterday, and no one discussed about them. Feels sad.
I might lose my job soon.

MLex has a new report about the review process in Japan:

- It is believed that the deal has yet to be formally notified.

-In June 2022, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) called for third-party views about the deal, even though it was at a "Phase I review" (I guess they mean pre-notification talks if it hasn't been notified yet). It was due to a new initiative to seek information about competition concerns in the digital markets at an early stage.

- Similar issues that Western regulators are being analysed (gaming market, cloud gaming, ecosystem advantages, etc).

- There hasn't been an uproar against the planned merger from the Japanese gaming industry or community.

- The JFTC hasn't blocked a deal in decades and usually accepts behavioural remedies

- According to the "2022 CESA Games White Paper," published in August 2022, Nintendo has 74.8%, Sony 23.4% and Microsoft's 1.8% of the Japanese market.

- The JFTC is known to analyse global deals in similar ways as Western regulators and approving the same conditions soon after its peers' decisions.

- The timing of the Japanese review will depend on MS's strategy, but maybe the JFTC wants to avoid affecting the FTC's court battle by giving an early clearance with easy conditions.

- In any case, it's not even clear if the JFTC would announce its decision because they don't have a legal obligation to disclose an initial-review result.

The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) announced today a new global M&A division for effective merger control of foreign deals to review local and international acquisitions involving foreign companies.

They said that the MS/ABK deal is one of those acquisitions, recently requiring in-depth economic analysis and legal review.

The agency's M&A division is formed by only 8 officials (the FTC had more than 10 people only for the MS/ABK case)

 

[feynoob]

People are on their mobile phones talking to and asking A.I. about the acquisition.

Like that isn't weird as hell

I was trying gothmog method, and let's say it was too weird. Especially on certain questions in certain industry.
AI are getting way smarter now.

 

[gothmog]

I posted 2 news yesterday, and no one discussed about them. Feels sad.
I might lose my job soon.

You know it's gonna be good when countries are starting up new trade commissions just to review it. Nobody wants Microsoft controlling things like StarCraft, COD, and WOW.

Deal is dead even if this goes to trial in the US.

 

[gothmog]

I was trying gothmog method, and let's say it was too weird. Especially on certain questions in certain industry.
AI are getting way smarter now.

Yes, artificial intelligence (AI) technology has advanced significantly in recent years, and there are many different applications of AI in various fields. There are many different approaches to developing AI systems, and researchers and developers are constantly working to improve and advance the capabilities of AI. Some examples of the types of tasks that AI systems are capable of include:

Natural language processing (NLP): AI systems that can understand and generate human-like language, such as for language translation or chatbots
Computer vision: AI systems that can analyze and understand images and video, such as for facial recognition or autonomous vehicles
Predictive analytics: AI systems that can analyze data to make predictions about future events, such as for stock market forecasting or customer behavior prediction
There are many other applications of AI as well, and the capabilities of AI systems are continually improving as research and development in this field progresses.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

I posted 2 news yesterday, and no one discussed about them. Feels sad.
I might lose my job soon.

I think there is news about some unionization going on.

 

[feynoob]

You know it's gonna be good when countries are starting up new trade commissions just to review it. Nobody wants Microsoft controlling things like StarCraft, COD, and WOW.

Deal is dead even if this goes to trial in the US.

If CMA approves i, everyone would follow them like a herd.
If they block it, everyone would block it.

I wouldn't count on those countries to act on their own. It will be a pass from their jurisdiction, if they submit it before the CMA, due to market share in their country like Brazil one.

 

[feynoob]

I think there is news about some unionization going on.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/financ...activision-blizzard-video-game-161931071.html

 

[adamsapple]

Khan on the "Promises" and spin about it being for the children.

We still need clarification on what exactly makes this an "illegal deal".

 

[DarkMage619]

Hummmm... I wonder how supreme Court judges are appointed...

Check who appointed most of the Supreme Court and who appointed the current members of the FTC. MS is entitled to due process just like any other entity.

We still need clarification on what exactly makes this an "illegal deal".

Great question. I'd like a truly neutral arbiter to judge the issue.

 

[twilo99]

"Sony has entered into arrangements with third-party publishers which require the 'exclusion' of Xbox."

Is this true?

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

We still need clarification on what exactly makes this an "illegal deal".

Is not fair.

 

[adamsapple]

Is not fair.

But that's not "illegal" ....

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

But that's not "illegal" ....

I dont make the law.

 

[gothmog]

But that's not "illegal" ....

Read the Clayton act.

 

[adamsapple]

I dont make the law.

As someone recently said, FTC (or Lina specifically) is blinded by ideology and has lost the plot.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

As someone recently said, FTC (or Lina specifically) is blinded by ideology and has lost the plot.

Someone? I think it was Activision who said that.

 

[adamsapple]

Someone? I think it was Activision who said that.

 

[Badlucktroll]

I think that, while Microsoft has the hearts and minds of some gamers, the deal will still be blocked, as it will be ruled an illegal merger.

 

[poppabk]

You know it's gonna be good when countries are starting up new trade commissions just to review it. Nobody wants Microsoft controlling things like StarCraft, COD, and WOW.

Deal is dead even if this goes to trial in the US.

Pretty sure they just want their piece of the pie if concessions are on the table. MS is gonna be handing out controller cozies like candy.

 

[gothmog]

Pretty sure they just want their piece of the pie if concessions are on the table. MS is gonna be handing out controller cozies like candy.

Lol...Series X fridges filled with Code Red for all members of the FTC.

 

[akimbo009]

I think that, while Microsoft has the hearts and minds of some gamers, the deal will still be blocked, as it will be ruled an illegal merger.

There's no reasonable position that the fTC can take to do that. At least they haven't made that case to date.

 

[DeepEnigma]

thicc_girls_are_teh_best and SenjutsuSage causing all of us to wear out our mouse wheels as we scroll on by.

 

[DeepEnigma]

"Sony has entered into arrangements with third-party publishers which require the 'exclusion' of Xbox."

Is this true?

Yes. It's called third party exclusives or timed exclusives. They both do it.

Are people really falling for the silly wordplay and unable to parse that?

I really do question the IQs of our privileged society.

 

[Topher]

Yes. It's called third party exclusives or timed exclusives. They both do it.

Are people really falling for the silly wordplay and unable to parse that?

The latest episode of "Sony did what?"

 

[Schmick]

Is there an AI for sexy talk? I'm asking for a friend.

 

[DeepEnigma]

The latest episode of "Sony did what?"

 

[Heisenberg007]

GameInformer - The Final Level

"The full document (which you can read here) claims that the deal should be allowed to go through for several other reasons as well, stating that Xbox and Activision Blizzard are “just two of hundreds of game publishers.”

Wow. I think they forgot to mention that Activision Blizzard is the biggest multiplatform game publisher. Microsoft is implying as if the hundreds of other publishers have the same value, IPs, games, and market pull.

"The claims that the FTC violates the constitution are listed on page 34 and are just a handful of defenses against the lawsuit in a list of two dozen."

 

[Topher]

We still need clarification on what exactly makes this an "illegal deal".

From her column...

'They prohibit mergers that “may substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.”'

So the FTC is saying that this acquisition will "substantially lessen competition" and thus, illegal. What must be determined in this process is whether this is or is not the case.

 

[feynoob]

http://[URL]https://www.gameinforme...n-by-blocking-activision-blizzard-acquisition

[/URL]


Wow. I think they forgot to mention that Activision Blizzard is the biggest multiplatform game publisher. Microsoft is implying as if the hundreds of other publishers have the same value, IPs, games, and market pull.

The violation is about sitting with them, and having a discussion with MS. Instead, FTC went ahead with the lawsuit.

 

[Topher]

GameInformer - The Final Level

Wow. I think they forgot to mention that Activision Blizzard is the biggest multiplatform game publisher. Microsoft is implying as if the hundreds of other publishers have the same value, IPs, games, and market pull.

On the subject of the Constitutionality, this is item 34 referenced in the article:

"The structure of these administrative proceedings, in which the Commission both initiates and finally adjudicates the Complaint against Microsoft, violates Microsoft’s Fifth Amendment Due Process right to adjudication before a neutral arbiter."

https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/editorialfiles/2022/12/22/20221222_9412_Resp_Microsofts_Answer_PUBLIC.pdf

Earlier in this thread I made a point about this very thing. Very strange that the FTC is able to appeal the administrative judge ruling to itself.

 

[64gigabyteram]

Bleeding Edge died in less than a year. Psychonauts 2 was mostly finished before MS acquired Double Fine, but they did help fund for some additional content (which DF could have technically gotten through another round of crowdfunding but, anyway). We've seen nothing from inXile's game despite getting a CG trailer over 2 years ago. Turn 10 only recently got that freedom after 15 years of sticking to the same Forza formula.

Rare need all the time in the world & a miracle to save Everwild from development hell. Playground wee only able to work on a different MS IP after being acquired, and may be a bit over their head with Fable. Project Mara is seemingly still a tech demo and Hellblade II is taking longer to come out than sequels of AAA games with prior entries released AFTER the first Hellblade.

your points are fair and all but SenjutsuSage isn't wrong, infact he's right to a fault

Microsoft does grant their studios a lot of freedom but the result is a lack of true cohesion and direction. When there's no true deadline or pressure to get shit done it can result in games taking FOREVER to come out, not to mention that a lot of these studios don't really work with each other the same way Sony studios do (likely as a result of them being acquired on a whim rather than having a relationship with the parent company) so stuff that would take 3 years for say Naughty Dog takes 6 years for a studio like Ninja Theory (and it's also probably why Hellblade 2 is taking as long as it is)

The issue IS the freedom, and while i'd never want them to go back to their kinect dystopian ways of forcing their best fucking studio to work on Kinect games, they have to strike a balance. A balance that's only learned when you've truly interacted with these studios enough to understand their work culture and a balance that helps them be the most efficient and produce the most quality games. That balance is exclusive to organic growth which a lot of MS studios do not have. As a result most of the games they're working on are in development hell and all of their most anticipated projects we aren't going to be seeing for the next 2 or 3 years.

also, tomorrow is my birthday. completely unrelated but i thought i'd mention that.

 

[bender]

also, tomorrow is my birthday. completely unrelated but i thought i'd mention that.

 

[Topher]

also, tomorrow is my birthday. completely unrelated but i thought i'd mention that.

 

[feynoob]

also, tomorrow is my birthday. completely unrelated but i thought i'd mention that.

Happy to you man.

 

[ReBurn]

On the subject of the Constitutionality, this is item 34 referenced in the article:

"The structure of these administrative proceedings, in which the Commission both initiates and finally adjudicates the Complaint against Microsoft, violates Microsoft’s Fifth Amendment Due Process right to adjudication before a neutral arbiter."

https://fm.cnbc.com/applications/cnbc.com/resources/editorialfiles/2022/12/22/20221222_9412_Resp_Microsofts_Answer_PUBLIC.pdf

Earlier in this thread I made a point about this very thing. Very strange that the FTC is able to appeal the administrative judge ruling to itself.

The FTC being able to appeal to itself if it doesn't get the result it wants is the weirdest thing.

 

[adamsapple]

The FTC being able to appeal to itself if it doesn't get the result it wants is the weirdest thing.

If anything should be illegal, it is that lol.

 

[Topher]

The FTC being able to appeal to itself if it doesn't get the result it wants is the weirdest thing.

It really is. I'm guessing Microsoft is pushing that point as a threat to put the FTC itself on trial as Axon has done.

 

[Fess]

People are on their mobile phones talking to and asking A.I. about the acquisition.

Like that isn't weird as hell

It is weird but it’s also fun, the reality is that you could totally have a conversation here by only posting AI answers. ChatGPT is nuts! It’s just too bad it doesn’t know about 2022 events so you need to ask about hypothetical scenarios. But that’s what we’re all talking about anyway so

 

[gothmog]

On the subject of the Constitutionality, this is item 34 referenced in the article:

"The structure of these administrative proceedings, in which the Commission both initiates and finally adjudicates the Complaint against Microsoft, violates Microsoft’s Fifth Amendment Due Process right to adjudication before a neutral arbiter."

http://[URL][URL]https://fm.cnbc.co...221222_9412_Resp_Microsofts_Answer_PUBLIC.pdf

[/URL][/URL]

Earlier in this thread I made a point about this very thing. Very strange that the FTC is able to appeal the administrative judge ruling to itself.

Fifth amendment only applies to people. It's FUD to get the mouth breathers salivating.

EDIT: Guess I was wrong about that. My bad.

 

[Topher]

Fifth amendment only applies to people. It's FUD to get the mouth breathers salivating.

Not so sure about that. Corporations were ruled to have first amendment rights so I'd say precedence is there for other amendments as well.

 

[ReBurn]

It really is. I'm guessing Microsoft is pushing that point as a threat to put the FTC itself on trial as Axon has done.

They're making pretty much the same argument as Axon from what I can tell. The FTC using their administrative law process to keep lawsuits out of federal courts is an interesting separation of powers issue. Will be interesting to see what the Supreme Court has to say about it.

Fifth amendment only applies to people. It's FUD to get the mouth breathers salivating.

This is incorrect. Fifth amendment due process protections have been applied to corporations since 1893. Corporations are regularly seen as "legal persons" by the court.

 

[DarkMage619]

Fifth amendment only applies to people. It's FUD to get the mouth breathers salivating.

No.

Due Process Clause - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

"The Due Process Clauses apply to both natural persons as well as to "legal persons" (that is, corporate personhood) as well as to individuals, including both citizens and non-citizens. The Fifth Amendment due process was first applied to corporations in 1893 by the Supreme Court in Noble v. Union River Logging."

Corporations absolutely have the right to due process and that is what MS is complaining about. To be forced to go through a process where even if they win can be appealed to the entity making the complaint and have thar win overturned is wrong.

 

[poppabk]

your points are fair and all but SenjutsuSage isn't wrong, infact he's right to a fault

Microsoft does grant their studios a lot of freedom but the result is a lack of true cohesion and direction. When there's no true deadline or pressure to get shit done it can result in games taking FOREVER to come out, not to mention that a lot of these studios don't really work with each other the same way Sony studios do (likely as a result of them being acquired on a whim rather than having a relationship with the parent company) so stuff that would take 3 years for say Naughty Dog takes 6 years for a studio like Ninja Theory (and it's also probably why Hellblade 2 is taking as long as it is)

The issue IS the freedom, and while i'd never want them to go back to their kinect dystopian ways of forcing their best fucking studio to work on Kinect games, they have to strike a balance. A balance that's only learned when you've truly interacted with these studios enough to understand their work culture and a balance that helps them be the most efficient and produce the most quality games. That balance is exclusive to organic growth which a lot of MS studios do not have. As a result most of the games they're working on are in development hell and all of their most anticipated projects we aren't going to be seeing for the next 2 or 3 years.

also, tomorrow is my birthday. completely unrelated but i thought i'd mention that.

This is why they need Activision - God knows they can pump out AAA titles - they may often be subpar but they come out on schedule.