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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Not open for further replies.
gothmog said:
I can only imagine how juicy that Statement of Objection is from the EU. On one hand I want it to leak, but on the other I am really enjoying the shit show.
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I would have expected her to include the EC in her tweet if their SO was heavy. The fact that she omits them makes me wonder.
 
Ass of Can Whooping said:
If I had my way you'd see more than bans
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The_Mike said:
I've read dumber posts in here than what he said.

It doesn't change my statement though.
It was your lame claim about banning people I stumpled upon.

You shouldn't get banned over how stupid you sound, then we would only have a handful of people in here if that was the case.
And I know I wouldn't be one of them myself, so don't take it too harshly.
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You really don't get it do you.
 
demigod said:
Because your opinion is rubbish so I didn't bother but since you asked. You're fine with ms taking away a game franchise with millions of players on playstation. If its so easy to make millions of dollars by selling games, why are there games that flop? Look at Callisto Protocol, Forspoken might be a flop as well. Why don't you go and make a game if its so easy? Why did ms go the gamepass route and day 1 on PC? It's not because their 1st party games are in a decline is it not? If their first party output is doing so hot, why are they going after Bethesda and Activision? Back to the woods you go.
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So because you think my opinion is rubbish I therefore have to go "back to the woods" and have no ability to place said opinion in the forum? I never said my opinion is gospel and that anyone who disagrees is perfectly fine to do so. I'm not a lawyer, nor know the inner workings of this deal, I'm just simply observing and using common sense approach.

Could you not swing that exact line of thinking back on Sony regarding purchases? Why is Sony expanding their studios if they are already doing well in the first party category? Why should a yone expand then if they are already doing well?

This acquisition, again in my opinion, is clearly more than just IP securing. Microsoft are seemingly shoring up developer talents, because it takes a bloody long time to cultivate said talents and is technically easier to purchase. Doesn't mean Microsoft, or Sony for that matter, are against natural talent cultivation. I'd argue they are clearly more inclined to nurture and grow internal existing studios pre any acquisition.

Game Pass was clearly a logistical move to gain as much ground as possible in a platform that is still quite new, and with their cloud capabilities accelerate. You probably knew that already, and maybe wanted to just cast it as some boogieman of the industry.

Sony is happy taking franchises away, so in that same token why is it not okay for Microsoft? One ruleset for one console manufacturer, another for the other. I just don't get that logical thought process, because it ignores current standings to allow dismissal. That's where I'm struggling with the FTC, in that they apparently should be looking at all facts but so far it seems not the case. Obviously politics is a whole different ball game and people can easily be persuaded, but I do hope all facets are looked at.

As for making my own game, or those that cost millions flopping, that's literally the whole point of the industry. Your product may not be the hot shit you think it is, especially if it's to meet specific genre guidelines in order to appease a mass audience or publisher. That it can fail is part of why the industry is so organic, and why I could make my own game if I wanted to do so. I don't quite get your line of thinking with the "why don't you go make a game if it's so easy."
 
Eotheod said:
So because you think my opinion is rubbish I therefore have to go "back to the woods" and have no ability to place said opinion in the forum? I never said my opinion is gospel and that anyone who disagrees is perfectly fine to do so. I'm not a lawyer, nor know the inner workings of this deal, I'm just simply observing and using common sense approach.

Could you not swing that exact line of thinking back on Sony regarding purchases? Why is Sony expanding their studios if they are already doing well in the first party category? Why should a yone expand then if they are already doing well?

This acquisition, again in my opinion, is clearly more than just IP securing. Microsoft are seemingly shoring up developer talents, because it takes a bloody long time to cultivate said talents and is technically easier to purchase. Doesn't mean Microsoft, or Sony for that matter, are against natural talent cultivation. I'd argue they are clearly more inclined to nurture and grow internal existing studios pre any acquisition.

Game Pass was clearly a logistical move to gain as much ground as possible in a platform that is still quite new, and with their cloud capabilities accelerate. You probably knew that already, and maybe wanted to just cast it as some boogieman of the industry.

Sony is happy taking franchises away, so in that same token why is it not okay for Microsoft? One ruleset for one console manufacturer, another for the other. I just don't get that logical thought process, because it ignores current standings to allow dismissal. That's where I'm struggling with the FTC, in that they apparently should be looking at all facts but so far it seems not the case. Obviously politics is a whole different ball game and people can easily be persuaded, but I do hope all facets are looked at.

As for making my own game, or those that cost millions flopping, that's literally the whole point of the industry. Your product may not be the hot shit you think it is, especially if it's to meet specific genre guidelines in order to appease a mass audience or publisher. That it can fail is part of why the industry is so organic, and why I could make my own game if I wanted to do so. I don't quite get your line of thinking with the "why don't you go make a game if it's so easy."
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You about hit all the talking points, but missed on mentioning Street Fighter V and FF7R.
 
The_Mike said:
Sonygaf quality peak post.

Someone says something good about Microsoft, quick ban them.

Edit: wow I got my own unique tag from this! Had to Google wth happens in redmond, apparently the mod is a M$ fanboy and knows about Microsoft quarters around US!
However my ass is not in Redmond since I live in a cold dweller basement in Denmark!

Thanks though demigod demigod :D
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Topher said:
For what? For this?

"What I'm hearing from people who are actually working on these consoles is that the Xbox is not significantly more powerful than the PlayStation despite the TFLOPS numbers, and that the TFLOPs might be a useful measurement in some ways, but ultimately it's a theoretical max speed and there's so many things that could come between."

[/URL]

He turned out to be right. And how is it showing his "true colors" when he is relaying what he was told from devs? None of that makes him a Sony fanboy.
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He felt it was his place to defend the PS5 when people were talking about the specs. That's not an independent journalist. It wasn't an article he was writing about the two consoles, it was him pushing the PS5.
Microsoft have put him out the outs because they believe he is biased. They won't do anything with him.
He even said on his twitter that it was fun and easy to make fun of Microsoft if I recall correctly.
 
In Cold Blood said:
He felt it was his place to defend the PS5 when people were talking about the specs. That's not an independent journalist. It wasn't an article he was writing about the two consoles, it was him pushing the PS5.
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That was the exact same month he published his Kotaku article ripping Naughty Dog to shreds for crunching so no, nothing you are saying has any merit whatsoever.

Microsoft have put him out the outs because they believe he is biased. They won't do anything with him.
He even said on his twitter that it was fun and easy to make fun of Microsoft if I recall correctly.
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First I've heard of this. Links please.
 
SenjutsuSage said:
I missed the part where she says only Sony can do this. But she is accurately pointing out that Sony has means and advantages, one of which is its powerful Sony Pictures business that can help translate to the kind of success she's highlighting while demonstrating the power of the playstation brand.

She correctly demonstrates that with the kind of business and brand synergy, and popularity Playstation possesses, they aren't some competitor who is in need of regulatory protection from this purchase. Some don't like what she's saying because they know she's right and pointing out things that are not helpful to Sony's arguments. It's all on the table, and no one gets to pick the facts most convenient for them.
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Well, if Sony can compete without ABK and COD, I am sure Microsoft, a 2 trillion dollar company that's 20x bigger than Sony, can also survive and compete without ABK and COD, right? 😄
 
RaZoR No1 said:
Is there a time limit / dead line for the Activision purchase ? If yes, does the purchase fail automatically or what happens?
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It has to close by July 18th or Microsoft/Activision have to extend the contract. Every regulatory body should reach a verdict before July 18th outside of the FTC, who is looking to drag on their lawsuit past the deadline. (The FTC hopes being annoying enough will stop the deal from going through)
 
demigod said:
If their first party output is doing so hot, why are they going after Bethesda and Activision?
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Alternatively, there's a situation where good games with giant brand recognition like Fallout, Doom, etc. Are Major assets that were up for sale. No matter what the quality of your output is, they would be positives to any portfolio.

Zenimax was up for sale. Microsoft didn't convince them to sell thinking they needed to prop up their platform's output. Those IPs were up for sale and someone was buying. At that point, the choices are to watch one of Meta, Sony or Amazon (among others) buy them and almost certainly never see them on your platforms again, or become a bidder yourself.

...is another way to look at it.

In Activision's case it's been reported that Meta was considering a buyout of the company.

So, rather than propping up Xbox's output, it's quite easy to view this as more about guaranteeing or protecting a place in an industry that has the potential to drastically change over a relatively short space of time.

I am generally of the opinion that all the players in the industry view this as bigger than Xbox Vs PlayStation, but that the gamers who are caught in the middle of it (including me) aren't really privy to how the business is changing and how there's a future where neither brand is of great significance if they don't do what they can today to guarantee future success.
 
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Mr Reasonable said:
Alternatively, there's a situation where good games with giant brand recognition like Fallout, Doom, etc. Are Major assets that were up for sale. No matter what the quality of your output is, they would be positives to any portfolio.

Zenimax was up for sale. Microsoft didn't convince them to sell thinking they needed to prop up their platform's output. Those IPs were up for sale and someone was buying. At that point, the choices are to watch one of Meta, Sony or Amazon (among others) buy them and almost certainly never see them on your platforms again, or become a bidder yourself.

...is another way to look at it.

In Activision's case it's been reported that Meta was considering a buyout of the company.

So, rather than propping up Xbox's output, it's quite easy to view this as more about guaranteeing or protecting a place in an industry that has the potential to drastically change over a relatively short space of time.

I am generally of the opinion that all the players in the industry view this as bigger than Xbox Vs PlayStation, but that the gamers who are caught in the middle of it (including me) aren't really privy to how the business is changing and how there's a future where neither brand is of great significance if they don't do what they can today to guarantee future success.
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https://game-news24.com/2022/01/29/...ried-to-sell-activision-blizzard-to-facebook/
A new report claims that Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick tried to sell the company to Facebook before accepting an offer from Microsoft. This reportedly came after the lapse of last years sexual harassment and abuse allegations. According to the report, the controversial video game giant was influenced by the fact that Microsoft spent an eye on it as much back as 2020.

Even though Microsoft approached Activision Blizzard back in 2020 with the question of acquisitions, Kotick was uninterested. Then, in November 2021 the Wall Street Journal published a bombshell report on the subject of which claimed that Bobby Kotick had known about a number of incidents of employee abuse and sexual harassment. In order to get rid of Activision Blizzards stock, it dropped by 15%.

Kotick still refused to let the offer be made clear and was able to attract other suitors. Kotick went to Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and another big corporation, but both deals ended. Kotick returned to Spencer to discuss the possibility of takingover. The two companies worked through the holidays in order to seal the deal, which would become a larger gaming entity.
 
POKEYCLYDE said:
It has to close by July 18th or Microsoft/Activision have to extend the contract. Every regulatory body should reach a verdict before July 18th outside of the FTC, who is looking to drag on their lawsuit past the deadline. (The FTC hopes being annoying enough will stop the deal from going through)
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There are multiple mini-deadlines between now and July 18th, whereas after each one passes without deal closure, MS will have to pay fees to Activision (adding up to 3bn on July 18th).

Renewing the agreement is not something that's %100 assured btw, the deal terms will ostensibly be up for re-negotiations, and it will bring up questions like:
  1. Is Satya still keen on paying $95 per ATVI share? And if not, will Activision board be open to renegotiate and potentially reduce their personal payouts by millions?
  2. What new break-up fees will be imposed, if any. If they decide to still continue, will Activision forego the payment of the fees or delay them? Reminder that the more time passes, the more Sony is capable of reducing their partnership with Activision, which may reduce collaboration and harm the current virtuous cycle that benefited both Sony and Activision in the past.
  3. Will the deal itself still be worth the antitrust headaches by then? Antitrust is something that almost killed MS way back when, and they had to go to great lengths to have great relations with regulator and legislative bodies in order to avoid said headaches.
All 3 of these points are things that can potentially kill the deal even without an explicit regulator's refusal.
 
Astray said:
There are multiple mini-deadlines between now and July 18th, whereas after each one passes without deal closure, MS will have to pay fees to Activision (adding up to 3bn on July 18th).
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That is only applicable if the deal gets blocked or MS walks out of the deal. MS will have to pay a penalty the amount of which will be dependent on how those milestone dates.
Astray said:
Renewing the agreement is not something that's %100 assured btw, the deal terms will ostensibly be up for re-negotiations, and it will bring up questions like:
  1. Is Satya still keen on paying $95 per ATVI share? And if not, will Activision board be open to renegotiate and potentially reduce their personal payouts by millions?
  2. What new break-up fees will be imposed, if any. If they decide to still continue, will Activision forego the payment of the fees or delay them? Reminder that the more time passes, the more Sony is capable of reducing their partnership with Activision, which may reduce collaboration and harm the current virtuous cycle that benefited both Sony and Activision in the past.
  3. Will the deal itself still be worth the antitrust headaches by then? Antitrust is something that almost killed MS way back when, and they had to go to great lengths to have great relations with regulator and legislative bodies in order to avoid said headaches.
All 3 of these points are things that can potentially kill the deal even without an explicit regulator's refusal.
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True. It won't be as simple.
 
Matsuchezz said:
I hope this deal is never approved. If anything Sony should be the one that buys Activision.
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That's equally bad.

I hope no one buys these big publishers with big IPs and they remain independent and continue to publish their popular games on all consoles.

This will create equal opportunities across all platforms and for all companies, and the only way to get ahead for these companies would be to best use their resources and studios to produce better-quality games than the other company.
 
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