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

Do you believe the deal will be approved?


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LQX

Member
At this point it is very odd to say this should not go through because it is bad for gamers. Nintendo always gets left out when it comes to COD so it should be great they're now guaranteed to some sort of edition of parity with Sony and MS. Also, GamePass will allow many more gamers to be able to afford and play these yearly and past COD releases. If this really is about "gamers" imagine how many more will now be able to enjoy the COD franchise without having to pay out the ass.
 

Thirty7ven

Banned
At this point it is very odd to say this should not go through because it is bad for gamers. Nintendo always gets left out when it comes to COD so it should be great they're now guaranteed to some sort of edition of parity with Sony and MS. Also, GamePass will allow many more gamers to be able to afford and play these yearly and past COD releases. If this really is about "gamers" imagine how many more will now be able to enjoy the COD franchise without having to pay out the ass.

Because F2P just doesn’t reach enough gamers out there.
 
As long as Microsoft has an knterrest in gaining market shares in the gaming space, Microsoft = Xbox division.

In the context of who I was responding to:

Now conclusion; How the f*ck such a FUBAR company can then be valued at trillions of dollars. And keep reporting profits at levels that would allow then to afford to buy Sony after couple quarters.

I still say:

No Way Kg GIF by SHOWTIME Sports
 

Solidus_T

Banned
At this point it is very odd to say this should not go through because it is bad for gamers. Nintendo always gets left out when it comes to COD so it should be great they're now guaranteed to some sort of edition of parity with Sony and MS. Also, GamePass will allow many more gamers to be able to afford and play these yearly and past COD releases. If this really is about "gamers" imagine how many more will now be able to enjoy the COD franchise without having to pay out the ass.
You must have a very short memory or have started gaming very recently. COD used to release on Nintendo platforms until 2015 and was pulled due to the lack of support from the player base as well as the hardware.
All of this has already been explained in this massive thread, but whatever.
 

Sanepar

Member
I’m not concerned about MS - ABK. Its already dead, there’s nothing to be concernepd about. The regulators follow their rules and are doing their job.

You don’t understand those rules - if you did you wouldn’t attempt such a juvenile false equivalence assertion.
It is not dead and u know that. If us and approves. Cma will accept. Everything depends what happens today and all point EU will approve.
 

3liteDragon

Member
From Idas.

Small update from MLex:

- Ahead of the meeting and talking with the press, Brad Smith said that: "We are more than willing, given our strategy, to address the concerns that others have”. "Whether it is by contracts, like the one we did with Nintendo this morning, or by regulatory undertakings, as we have consistently been open to”.

- MLex understands that although Sony has refuted the idea that licensing deals will ease competition concerns, it is engaged in talks with the Xbox maker on potential remedies.

- The Statement of Objections is still pursuing all three theories of harm against Microsoft that were mentioned in November (OS and subscription services included, then).
 
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jm89

Member
From Idas:

Small update from MLex:

- Ahead of the meeting and talking with the press, Brad Smith said that: "We are more than willing, given our strategy, to address the concerns that others have”. "Whether it is by contracts, like the one we did with Nintendo this morning, or by regulatory undertakings, as we have consistently been open to”.

- MLex understands that although Sony has refuted the idea that licensing deals will ease competition concerns, it is engaged in talks with the Xbox maker on potential remedies.

- The Statement of Objections is still pursuing all three theories of harm against Microsoft that were mentioned in November (OS and subscription services included, then).
Wow so they also maintained subscription service as a concern. More reason why this 10 year deal is not going to be enough, and phil just saying oh we can also do cod on ps plus is not enough either, nobody is stupid enough to give MS the power to dicatate the pricing.
 

Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
Wow so they also maintained subscription service as a concern. More reason why this 10 year deal is not going to be enough, and phil just saying oh we can also do cod on ps plus is not enough either, nobody is stupid enough to give MS the power to dicatate the pricing.
Sony could never afford the pricing. MS couldn't either. Getting them Call of Duty on PS+ is pretty unfair in my opinion. Keeping it available at retail and PSN store is more than fine. MS had to spend 70 billion to be able to get COD on Gamepass. Sony would have to pay hundreds of millions for a fair price to have it on PS+ on day one, maybe more. But I don't expect anything fair from the CMA at this point.
 

jm89

Member
Sony could never afford the pricing. MS couldn't either. Getting them Call of Duty on PS+ is pretty unfair in my opinion. Keeping it available at retail and PSN store is more than fine. MS had to spend 70 billion to be able to get COD on Gamepass. Sony would have to pay hundreds of millions for a fair price to have it on PS+ on day one, maybe more. But I don't expect anything fair from the CMA at this point.
Well this latest report isn't regarding the CMA it's the EC who are still maintaining concerns regarding subscriptions service.

Sony not being able to afford to put it on ps plus, is exactly the reason why EC can't be idiotic enough to let MS dictate the pricing of putting it on something ps plus.

MS biggest reasons for this acqusition is actually not cod but king as they have been telling us :messenger_tears_of_joy:, so shouldn't be a big problem agreeing on a fair price to put cod on ps plus right? As the bigger picture is mobile....
 
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Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
Well this latest report isn't regarding the CMA it's the EC who are still maintaining concerns regarding subscriptions service.

Sony not being able to afford to put it on ps plus, is exactly the reason why EC can't be idiotic enough to let MS dictate the pricing of putting it on something ps plus.

MS biggest reasons for this acqusition is actually not cod but king as they have been telling us :messenger_tears_of_joy:, so shouldn't be a big problem agreeing on a fair price to put cod on ps plus right? As the bigger picture is mobile....
You're clearly not talking about an actual fair price though. The price would be incredibly high if it was being fair. That's what I'm saying. You seem to be arguing in favor of regulatory agencies giving Sony a massively preferential price that MS never got.
 

jm89

Member
You're clearly not talking about an actual fair price though. The price would be incredibly high if it was being fair. That's what I'm saying. You seem to be arguing in favor of regulatory agencies giving Sony a massively preferential price that MS never got.
We can argue what a fair price is but none of us really know and sure it may be high, i guess the point im making is MS can easily set a much high price that makes it not unaffordable for competitiors.
 

Banjo64

cumsessed
Not sure that deal of this size in any vertical would be smooth sailing for anyone. Sorry mate, but I tend to trust real lawyers vs forum warriors in real life. I guess we will see if he knows what he is doing when the deal closes/collapses.

Completely not related, maybe a bit.

But This reminds of these ongoing statements;
- Xbox doesn’t have games while in fact it have shit tons of games
- at XGS every developer is in development hell - while their are not
- Gampass will destroy gaming - while it is actually enable more people to play
- streaming games (especially when someone mentions xcloud) is shit - while lots of people use it (me included) and it is quite awesome, but vr is future but only by Sony others are sh*t
- any game from XGS will be delayed - literally in almost every thread about XGS you have got warriors with the same message (and magic balls :))
- new one - MS trillion dollar lawyers don’t know what they are doing

On this forum Ms is sh*t at everything, OS, Cloud, Streaming, Gaming etc. they lawyers don’t know what they are doing, they laying off people while having big offices and parties (how dare they, they should sell some of their offices to keep those people employed, and disregard the fact that company is pivoting). And of course no one mention about 1.2 billion severance package for these people, remember, nothing positive about MS.

Now conclusion; How the f*ck such a FUBAR company can then be valued at trillions of dollars. And keep reporting profits at levels that would allow then to afford to buy Sony after couple quarters.
That’s one big chip on your shoulder mate.
 

reksveks

Member
So I had to backtrack three pages of this to find out what deal with Nintendo was being discussed now.......only to find out it is the same damn deal that has been discussed for weeks.
Only new thing is the paperwork has been actually been signed but nothing else new
 

ToadMan

Member
At this point it is very odd to say this should not go through because it is bad for gamers. Nintendo always gets left out when it comes to COD so it should be great they're now guaranteed to some sort of edition of parity with Sony and MS. Also, GamePass will allow many more gamers to be able to afford and play these yearly and past COD releases. If this really is about "gamers" imagine how many more will now be able to enjoy the COD franchise without having to pay out the ass.

Except for all those COD players - you know, most console COD players - who use PS.

It’s them who will be negatively affected.

Not the mythical COD-starved masses on Nintendo.

It doesn’t matter how good a deal you think GP is, the reduction of choice to the majority of console players is not acceptable.

Oh and an acquisition is unnecessary - Acti can put COD on Nintendo if they wish - and in the past they have - and MS can pay for GP day one if they want - none of that needs acquisition and removal of choice from people using other platforms.
 
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Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
We can argue what a fair price is but none of us really know and sure it may be high, i guess the point im making is MS can easily set a much high price that makes it not unaffordable for competitiors.
Sure, fair enough that none of us know the number. But we know it would be unbelievably high. Almost as high as paying for GTA to be on PS+ on day 1. And that would be a fair price.
 

Thirty7ven

Banned
Except for all those COD players - you know, most console COD players - who use PS.

It’s them who will be negatively affected.

Not the mythical COD-starved masses on Nintendo.

It doesn’t matter how good a deal you think GP is, the reduction of choice to majority of console players is not acceptable.

Oh and an acquisition is unnecessary - Acti can put COD on Nintendo if they wish - and in the past they have - and MS can pay for GP day one if they want - none of that needs acquisition and removal of choice from people using other platforms.

People ou here pretending PS isn’t COD’s most important audience is some funny shit. But what about switch…
 
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ToadMan

Member
It is not dead and u know that. If us and approves. Cma will accept. Everything depends what happens today and all point EU will approve.

Yes it is dead.

What happens now is a negotiation with the regulators and if that gets approved it is a different deal.

Evidently the main prize of COD exclusive to MS is already gone.

Whatever comes out of this is something else, not the one MS-ABK claimed would be approved without concessions.
 

Bo_Hazem

Banned

Topher

Identifies as young
Yes it is dead.

What happens now is a negotiation with the regulators and if that gets approved it is a different deal.

Evidently the main prize of COD exclusive to MS is already gone.

Whatever comes out of this is something else, not the one MS-ABK claimed would be approved without concessions.

But the deal isn't "dead" if MS is allowed to buy ABK, concessions or not.
 

jm89

Member
Sure, fair enough that none of us know the number. But we know it would be unbelievably high. Almost as high as paying for GTA to be on PS+ on day 1. And that would be a fair price.
If it's unbelievably high that competitors can't afford it then the concern about subscription won't be able to met by MS, as right out the gate putting on subs services will put most companies out of reach.

I think you know where i am going with this, what MS will have to give up if that is a concern that the EC don't let up on will not be favourable to MS as the CMA have also shown through what they prefer as remedies. This isn't really about making things fair for MS, it's keeping them from harming the market.
 
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Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
If it's unbelievably high that competitors can't afford it then the concern about subscription won't be able to met by MS, as right out the gate putting on subs services will put most companies out of reach.

I think you know where i am going with this, what MS will have to give up if that is a concern that the EC don't let up on will be unfair to MS as the CMA have also shown through what they prefer as remedies. This isn't really about making things fair for MS, it's keeping them from harming the market.
Nobody can afford to put it on sub services, and no one has put it on sub services day 1. Personally, I expected MS to gain at least a slight advantage for paying 70 billion and paying the salaries of the developers. If that advantage is they can decide to put it on GP, then fine. Other people can pay for it on sub services, but it's crazy expensive. Everyone else would be able to get it at retail like they are now. Sub services could probably afford it a year later maybe, like Sony is doing with their own first party games.

Mandating that it has to be on PS+ on day 1 in my opinion is pretty unfair to MS. Mandating that they do it and not be compensated the fair price is even more unfair. But like I said, I don't expect anything fair from this after some of these arguments.
 

jm89

Member
Nobody can afford to put it on sub services, and no one has put it on sub services day 1. Personally, I expected MS to gain at least a slight advantage for paying 70 billion and paying the salaries of the developers. If that advantage is they can decide to put it on GP, then fine. Other people can pay for it on sub services, but it's crazy expensive. Everyone else would be able to get it at retail like they are now. Sub services could probably afford it a year later maybe, like Sony is doing with their own first party games.

Mandating that it has to be on PS+ on day 1 in my opinion is pretty unfair to MS. Mandating that they do it and not be compensated the fair price is even more unfair. But like I said, I don't expect anything fair from this after some of these arguments.
Well MS are the ones who touted that mobile was the main reason for this, so they are getting an adavantage by getting king and instantly putting making them competitive in mobile. Problem is you want them to have an advantage in everything really, even if it means harming the market. Reality is MS will have to make concession for this to work.
 

ToadMan

Member
You're clearly not talking about an actual fair price though. The price would be incredibly high if it was being fair. That's what I'm saying. You seem to be arguing in favor of regulatory agencies giving Sony a massively preferential price that MS never got.

Most people don’t want this acquisition to go through… this is an idea concocted by MS and ABK.

So yes, if MS and ABK want to go ahead with this risky acquisition, why shouldn’t they give preferential pricing to Sony (and anyone else for that matter) for PS Plus presence?

And that should be in perpetuity, and not limited to COD. This is the only way to preserve the market and protect consumers.

That would improve competition wouldn’t it? Is that not the goal?
 
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Sanepar

Member
Yes it is dead.

What happens now is a negotiation with the regulators and if that gets approved it is a different deal.

Evidently the main prize of COD exclusive to MS is already gone.

Whatever comes out of this is something else, not the one MS-ABK claimed would be approved without concessions.
They don't need cod exclusive. They only need and blizzard games on gamepass.

That's what they want.
 

Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
Well MS are the ones who touted that mobile was the main reason for this, so they are getting an adavantage by getting king and instantly putting making them competitive in mobile. Problem is you want them to have an advantage in everything really, even if it means harming the market. Reality is MS will have to make concession for this to work.
I'm not talking about King at all, so you can talk about that with someone else. I'm saying that it's pretty silly for MS to spend 70 billion and then be expected to put COD on PS+ and not even be fairly compensated for it. Pretty simple concept. And this is with COD still being available at retail and digital storefronts without any restriction.
 

ToadMan

Member
But the deal isn't "dead" if MS is allowed to buy ABK, concessions or not.

The deal spelled out last year is dead. It cannot go ahead now - MS-ABK won’t be a concession free transaction. To put it another way, without MS making concessions the deal is done.

What we’re watching is a new deal being negotiated with the regulators and other interested parties.

What that looks like or if indeed there is any deal at all now, remains to be seen.
 

ToadMan

Member
They don't need cod exclusive. They only need and blizzard games on gamepass.

That's what they want.

Which makes one wonder why MS is fighting so hard over a side show then?

By your logic, MS would have immediately agreed with regulator concerns and divested Acti day one and this deal would be done.
 

Topher

Identifies as young
The deal spelled out last year is dead. It cannot go ahead now - MS-ABK won’t be a concession free transaction. To put it another way, without MS making concessions the deal is done.

What we’re watching is a new deal being negotiated with the regulators and other interested parties.

What that looks like or if indeed there is any deal at all now, remains to be seen.

We have different definitions in what is considered a "dead" deal here then.
 

pasterpl

Member
I can tell you there are no stats yet for any BU/team/division at MS. Layoffs will happen through Q3 which ends on March 31st, so stats should be available by then, if they're shared ofc.

The other user suggested that he have/seen this data, that’s why I have asked.

Microsoft != Xbox division

On NeoGaf it is one and the same - the EVIL megacorp MS/Xbox
 

jm89

Member
I'm not talking about King at all, so you can talk about that with someone else. I'm saying that it's pretty silly for MS to spend 70 billion and then be expected to put COD on PS+ and not even be fairly compensated for it. Pretty simple concept. And this is with COD still being available at retail and digital storefronts without any restriction.
They will be compensated though, just not with a silly high price tag. Whether you thinkt that's fair or not is irellevant, but regulators won't be stupid enough to allow MS to price out competitiors. Doesn;t matter what sympathy you feel towards a trillion dollar company, like i said concenssion that MS don't like will need to be made.
 
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Punished Miku

Human Rights Subscription Service
They will be compensated though, just not with a silly high price tag. Whether you thinkt that's fair or not is irellevant, but regulators won't be stupid enough to allow MS to price out competitiors. Doesn;t matter what sympathy you feel towards a trillion dollar company, like i said concenssion that MS don't will need to be made.
So you want PS to get it on their sub service and not have to pay a fair price for it. I understood you the first 2 times.

It's not about sympathy. It just doesn't seem logical or fair to me. Selling it on the storefront is one thing. That seems totally fine. But you're asking MS to give it away to Sony on a sub service and then not have it be paid for, which is a totally different thing entirely. Just a bizarre leap in my opinion.
 
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sainraja

Member
We have different definitions in what is considered a "dead" deal here then.
You both are saying the same thing, just differently. The original deal is being amended, which will result in a new version of the deal, OR the original deal is "dead" and a new one is being worked on — the outcome is still a "new" deal, which is not the same as the original deal.
 
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