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[thebigmanjosh]

If this deal approved (a big IF), they are gonna kill Game Pass, isn't it? Nvidia and Game Pass both have ~25 million subscribers. That's really gonna kill Game Pass, especially in the PC space.

I think Microsoft is going full third-party, as I predicted they eventually would, and this is the first step towards that. It is just sooner than I expected.

They didn't specify if GP would be going to Geforce Now, so I'm assuming it includes full-price games available on Steam until they state otherwise. If it does include GP, then that's a huge indictment on cloud and how MS sees it as a future product.

I do agree that MS seem more interested in getting this deal done than remaining an independent party long-term.

 

[Heisenberg007]

"Smith says, in his view, the UK regulator did not completely shut the door on behavioural remedies rather than structural ones. In other words - he believes there's still wiggle room to get Activision Blizzard King whole."


I wouldn't be so dismissive now that contracts have actually been signed and not just statements of intent.

The contract was signed on Dec. 7, 2022, and submitted to the CMA before the CMA released their provisional findings.

The CMA just doesn't believe that (1) Nintendo is a direct competitor of MS and the main affected party, (2) this addresses the cloud gaming concerns that the CMA has.

So, according to the CMA, this 10-year deal doesn't really matter. And whether MS/Nintendo has an agreement or not doesn't change CMA's mind.

They asked for other types of behavioral remedies, and MS so far hasn't submitted those. And this Nintnedo deal ain't one of those remedies.

 

[Interfectum]

So should Nintendo and Nvidia thank Sony for fighting this battle and forcing these concessions?

 

[Punished Miku]

Well this will still happen sorry. For the majority of the console market. Only CoD is important over all the other franchises ABK has. The rest is more PC focused in general and won't effect much.

So yes this ABK deal won't do that much in general. MS won't have any unique games but still the same old same old. Reason why Sony is investing heavenly in new fresh studios is to create and have new kinds of IP's. MS is more focused on filling GP and it doesn't matter if the majority is just quantity over quality.

Exactly. Which is why I always supported this. Sony dominance will just keep growing. People are going to end up with Sony unchecked by anyone, and people are too brand loyal to realize it.

 

[Loxus]

So if the deal goes through, nothing chnages on PS. Xbox and PC get more games on gamepass. Streaming services get more games. Nintendo players get more games.


Literally all gamers win. Why would anyone be against this? other than holding sony stock

How do Nintendo and Playstation gamers win if they only get to play COD for 10 years if this deal goes through?

 

[Heisenberg007]

I'm not super knowledgable on all this stuff, so correct me if I am wrong. Nvidia only provides streaming for games you already purchased elsewhere, correct? So I don't see how this would kill gamepass, since the appeal to gamepass is that you don't have to purchase full price games. COD would still be sold, as it usually is - so the Nvidia deal doesn't seem to change that. If it was the case that xcloud use was significant for gamepass subscribers, it might hurt them to have these games available on a different cloud platform, but I think it's pretty clear that very few people actually use xcloud.

You're right, but in the future the consensus (at least from MS's POV) is that consoles/game purchases/hardware won't be required, and games will run off of Cloud.

If and when that future comes, this might turn out to be a detrimental decision for Microsoft.

 

[feynoob]

Seems pointless, they could've announced the Nvidia deal without the crying.

They want melodrama week, and more fire under Sony.

They listed all their PR in order to paint Sony as bad guys.

Disgusting move, but that is corporation for you.

 

[DrFigs]

If it does include GP, then that's a huge indictment on cloud and how MS sees it as a future product.

Can you explain what you mean by this? Why you think this is the case?

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

If this deal approved (a big IF), they are gonna kill Game Pass, isn't it? Nvidia and Game Pass both have ~25 million subscribers. That's really gonna kill Game Pass, especially in the PC space.

I think Microsoft is going full third-party, as I predicted they eventually would, and this is the first step towards that. It is just sooner than I expected.

There's also the fact that Game Pass is still a non-starter on PC, even after all these years, so this could be Microsoft admitting that and going to a platform where cloud gaming on PC is actually doing rather well.

Same way they couldn't get Windows Store off the ground, so they were basically forced to turn to Steam. They would have avoided both scenarios if they could have afforded to. But I do think it's interesting if this is a step towards them moving into being a more full-on 3P publisher.

Did say a while ago, this deal would probably have been going a lot easier for them if they were actually a "real" 3P publisher. All games on all platforms Day 1 where it makes the most sense (i.e Starfield, Forza, Gears etc. on Xbox, PS, PC Day 1, Hifi Rush & Pentiment on Xbox, PS, PC, Nintendo, mobile Day 1, maybe the odd Age of Empires or Gears Tactics or Flight Sim being Windows/PC exclusive for a bit and then getting ported to Xbox & PS a little bit later) AND not presenting a conflicting business model (i.e they'd have to completely change how they handle "Day 1" on Game Pass for 1P titles, or offer extreme incentives for non-MS platform holders or do some crazy revenue sharing model that would more or less defeat the purpose of MS's Game Pass push as they've been leveraging it thus far).

If that were Microsoft's business model in practice by now, the deal would be going by much more smoothly. If they did all of that and probably even shifted Xbox into a PC-like business model on top of it(and allowed regular Windows to run on Xbox), this deal would have probably been approved before the end of last year.

 

[reksveks]

So all Xbox games on Switch?

Still wondering about that personally

 

[wolffy71]

How do Nintendo and Playstation gamers win if they only get to play COD for 10 years if this deal goes through?

Will cod even be a thing in 10 years? Doubtful

 

[Elios83]

I guess for MS right now they can afford to say “no way” to divestment right now and see how far the regulators will bend first.

I mean, the regulators are there to protect consumers - but equally they’re not there to simply say “no” to everything.

So while MS is saying “No divestment” right now that can all change. It feels like we’re still just getting PR crap at the moment.

Probably have to wait for the next phase CMA report to actually get something concrete.

This would make sense if there were many other chances to discuss about these things and reach some kind of agreement but we're way past that, we're almost at the finishing line.
It's as if Microsoft were still thinking that they're in the early negotiation phase while regulators like the CMA basically told them that either they give up on COD or it's deal blocked

Also this mini conference they made was quite embarrassing, it's almost as if they thought they would be able to change everyone's minds today and announce it as a triumph instead nothing changed except for nVidia being happy about more games on GFNow.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

Man the desperation is palpable. Hopefully the CMA will still refuse any behavioral remedies and force divestiture if the deal is approved at all.

 

[feynoob]

If this deal approved (a big IF), they are gonna kill Game Pass, isn't it? Nvidia and Game Pass both have ~25 million subscribers. That's really gonna kill Game Pass, especially in the PC space.

I think Microsoft is going full third-party, as I predicted they eventually would, and this is the first step towards that. It is just sooner than I expected.

They aren't killing gamepass.
This is very beneficial for them, as those 25m users would have to buy their games.

Gamepass=Sub.
Nvidia=Sub but needs you to buy the game.

 

[BennyBlanco]

There's also the fact that Game Pass is still a non-starter on PC, even after all these years, so this could be Microsoft admitting that and going to a platform where cloud gaming on PC is actually doing rather well.

Same way they couldn't get Windows Store off the ground, so they were basically forced to turn to Steam. They would have avoided both scenarios if they could have afforded to. But I do think it's interesting if this is a step towards them moving into being a more full-on 3P publisher.

Did say a while ago, this deal would probably have been going a lot easier for them if they were actually a "real" 3P publisher. All games on all platforms Day 1 where it makes the most sense (i.e Starfield, Forza, Gears etc. on Xbox, PS, PC Day 1, Hifi Rush & Pentiment on Xbox, PS, PC, Nintendo, mobile Day 1, maybe the odd Age of Empires or Gears Tactics or Flight Sim being Windows/PC exclusive for a bit and then getting ported to Xbox & PS a little bit later) AND not presenting a conflicting business model (i.e they'd have to completely change how they handle "Day 1" on Game Pass for 1P titles, or offer extreme incentives for non-MS platform holders or do some crazy revenue sharing model that would more or less defeat the purpose of MS's Game Pass push as they've been leveraging it thus far).

If that were Microsoft's business model in practice by now, the deal would be going by much more smoothly. If they did all of that and probably even shifted Xbox into a PC-like business model on top of it(and allowed regular Windows to run on Xbox), this deal would have probably been approved before the end of last year.

Gamepass on PC is pretty popular tho. The only problem is their god awful launcher. A lot of my stean friends use it.

 

[wolffy71]

Still wondering about that personally

That opens a lot of consoles for MS title's and bigger reason to buy Nintendo.

Switch/PS gets you almost every possible game if it's all MS games

 

[Heisenberg007]

So all Xbox games on Switch?

Interesting. I think Sony might accept this type of a deal.

Perhaps it'd be even wise to take such a deal as long as these are native ports with content/feature parity, as it'd effectively kill Xbox the console, their only direct competitor.

 

[feynoob]

There's also the fact that Game Pass is still a non-starter on PC, even after all these years, so this could be Microsoft admitting that and going to a platform where cloud gaming on PC is actually doing rather well.

How did you get this?
Gamepass is different than Nvidia.
If anything, this is MS gaining more users or allowing users who bought their games to use Nvidia.

 

[PaintTinJr]

Am I reading the tweet wrong - or like the Nintendo fake offer, does it still rely on the acquisition passing for Xbox games to be on Geforce Now?

 

[bentanchorbolt]

Leaving the hotel for the meeting like

Walking into the meeting like:

 

[reksveks]

If this deal approved (a big IF), they are gonna kill Game Pass, isn't it? Nvidia and Game Pass both have ~25 million subscribers. That's really gonna kill Game Pass, especially in the PC space.

Not sure it does, it's two different product offerings and depending on the integration, people may get PC Gamepass + GFN instead of GPU (there is too many variables to figure out if its lost revenue).

Updated it's not that level of integration.

 

[Punished Miku]

instead nothing changed expect for nVidia being happy about games on GFNow.

Because what regulators are asking is so extreme it makes it not even worth the price tag. They can spend the money far better elsewhere. Pretty ridiculous to spend 70 billion and then pay all their salaries of a huge company while signing away all control over it for over 10 years. Might as well just give Sony 70 billion Christmas present. They're trying to compete against Sony who is utterly dominant. Regulators will need to move, or it's not really worth it in my opinion. Signing 10 years was already fairly unprecedented.

 

[DrFigs]

Interesting. I think Sony might accept this type of a deal.

Perhaps it'd be even wise to take such a deal as long as these are native ports with content/feature parity, as it'd effectively kill Xbox the console, their only direct competitor.

Yeah it would be insane for sony to reject this deal of getting xbox and activision games for the next 10 years. But then I don't really buy that Microsoft would offer sony the same deal they offered nintendo. And I also don't trust Jim Ryan as CEO. So who knows.

 

[SmokedMeat]

How do Nintendo and Playstation gamers win if they only get to play COD for 10 years if this deal goes through?

Well for starters Nintendo hasn’t seen a CoD release since Blops 2.

10yrs > 0yrs

 

[wolffy71]

This is strange, I think we need to hear spefics before we really know what these mean.

The nvidia thing is pretty minor to xbox but I don't think the Switch thing is.

Switch just has a power issue for some of these titles.

Would they only really function if ran over the cloud?

Would that mean cloud subs to MS thru the Switch?

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

"Smith says, in his view, the UK regulator did not completely shut the door on behavioural remedies rather than structural ones. In other words - he believes there's still wiggle room to get Activision Blizzard King whole."


I wouldn't be so dismissive now that contracts have actually been signed and not just statements of intent.

I agree with you that behavioral remedies are still on the table. What Brad Smith is not considering, though, is that behavioral remedies won't happen unless they're paired with at least SOME kind of structural remedies. These regulators aren't going to let the deal go through on behavioral remedies alone. That just opens up all kinds of abuse to the terms 'promised' in the behavioral remedies down the line. They definitely aren't letting behavioral remedies be the only ones on the table when they are self-imposed by the company trying to make the acquisition.

Behavioral remedies can potentially work but not unless structural remedies are there alongside them. The one good thing for Microsoft being, really strong behavioral remedies would be able to stave off the strictest of structural remedies. But they won't rid of the need of structural remedies altogether.

 

[analog_future]

This is strange, I think we need to hear spefics before we really know what these mean.

The nvidia thing is pretty minor to xbox but I don't think the Switch thing is.

Switch just has a power issue for some of these titles.

Would they only really function if ran over the cloud?

Would that mean cloud subs to MS thru the Switch?

These games would come to Switch 2, not Switch. Switch 2 will have plenty of power.

 

[feynoob]

Not sure it does, it's two different product offerings and depending on the integration, people may get PC Gamepass + GFN instead of GPU (there is too many variables to figure out if its lost revenue)

People are jumping on this, without knowing how gforce operates.
MS will gain a lot of customers due to this deal.

 

[reksveks]

Microsoft and NVIDIA will begin work immediately to integrate Xbox PC games into GeForce NOW, so that GeForce NOW members can stream PC games they buy in the Windows Store, including third-party partner titles where the publisher has granted streaming rights to NVIDIA. Xbox PC games currently available in third party stores like Steam or Epic Games Store will also be able to be streamed through GeForce NOW.

Source: https://nvidianews.nvidia.com/news/microsoft-and-nvidia-announce-expansive-new-gaming-deal

Yes, i have posted it for the third time.

 

[Punished Miku]

Interesting. I think Sony might accept this type of a deal.

Perhaps it'd be even wise to take such a deal as long as these are native ports with content/feature parity, as it'd effectively kill Xbox the console, their only direct competitor.

Heisenberg007 wet dream alert.

 

[mansoor1980]

from the other thread

 

[wolffy71]

These games would come to Switch 2, not Switch. Switch 2 will have plenty of power.

For these current generation but then be behind again in the next cycle I'd assume

 

[wolffy71]

People are jumping on this, without knowing how gforce operates.
MS will gain a lot of customers due to this deal.

Well how does it happen then

 

[Loxus]

from the other thread

All this shows is Microsoft is trying to hurt 80% of console gamers in Europe.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Sony doesn’t want gamers happy.

i think is the opposite

 

[feynoob]

Well how does it happen then

You buy Xbox games on steam/epic (if it has some), then use gforce to stream it.
So essentially, you are spending money buying their games.
Gamepass on other hand, is a sub.

 

[mansoor1980]

they should also reveal the profit numbers for xbox as a whole (or loss)

 

[analog_future]

For these current generation but then be behind again in the next cycle I'd assume

Well, this generation will probably go for another 7+ years, plus the expected 2-3 year crossgen period, so that 10 year agreement should be covered either way.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Heisenberg007 wet dream alert.

No, just a hypothetical scenario from Sony's POV, trying to gauge their strategy in the context of this acquisition.

As for me, why would I have wet dreams about Xbox dying? By Microsoft's own admission, they have a negligible presence in the market; as if they aren't even here.

Doesn't really matter if they continue their operations or cease to exist.

 

[BennyBlanco]

Interesting. I think Sony might accept this type of a deal.

Perhaps it'd be even wise to take such a deal as long as these are native ports with content/feature parity, as it'd effectively kill Xbox the console, their only direct competitor.

Sony going unopposed in home consoles would be terrible.

 

[FoxMcChief]

 

[Iced Arcade]

Ahhhh you can see the method they used now.

They eliminated "protecting gamers" argument for the CMA,EU,FTC by increasing the games on every service going.

So if the CMA votes against, they sided with the market leaders interests instead of gamers.

(Before the hives panties get ruffled and wedged, just an observation take on the probable method they are using)

 

[Sanepar]

from the other thread

This just show all their lies:
- It was all about king - lie it is about cod and blizzard
- they don't care about console sales - lie they want europeans buying xbox instead of playstation, how this benefit consumers i have no clue
- they want to have content cross platform - lie look what they did with bethesda and they are offering only a 10 year deal to pull off after all content from PS and only for cod. BLIZZARD games will be out of PS future.

So what MS is trying is to convince regulator with a whole spread of lies and pr bullshit.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Sony going unopposed in home consoles would be terrible.

I agree.

 

[Punished Miku]

Doesn't really matter if they continue their operations or cease to exist

As I said, wet dream alert.

 

[jm89]

So all Xbox games on Switch?

It would be crazy if they offered sony the same thing, with cloud being a concern they would have to offer on ps plus aswell.

 

[Andodalf]

Ahhhh you can see the method they used now.

They eliminated "protecting gamers" argument for the CMA,EU,FTC by increasing the games on every service going.

So if the CMA votes against, they sided with the market leaders interests instead of gamers.

(Before the hives panties get ruffled and wedged, just an observation take on the probable method they are using)

The trolls are now shifting back to the argument of consolidation being evil.

they also want xbox to shut down and PS to have a monopoly, funny!

 

[Heisenberg007]

As I said, wet dream alert.

No, read.

 

[Riky]

Ahhhh you can see the method they used now.

They eliminated "protecting gamers" argument for the CMA,EU,FTC by increasing the games on every service going.

So if the CMA votes against, they sided with the market leaders interests instead of gamers.

(Before the hives panties get ruffled and wedged, just an observation take on the probable method they are using)

Exactly if the deal doesn't go through then it's bad for gamers.

 

[DR3AM]

Who and when needs now to make the final decision?