bitbydeath
Gold Member
Best outcome: MS gets Activision but is told to close it all down so nobody gets it.Best Outcome: MS gets Activision, but then have to release all AB+Bethesda games on PS5.
Best outcome: MS gets Activision but is told to close it all down so nobody gets it.Best Outcome: MS gets Activision, but then have to release all AB+Bethesda games on PS5.
I’m not getting into your silly arguments, try someone else.There's nothing believe. EU clearly said they were not deceived.
They never promised any exclusively.
Some of you all acting stupid just like Sony's Jimbo.
I'm aware, I was raising a point
What is bullshit? That they don't have the same priorities as console warriors?Bullshit. Come on. They want Call of Duty to be exclusive and realistically the same for Minecraft. The only reason they aren't outright doing that is because Microsoft don't own the majority share of the console market. If they did of course they would and it'd massively hurt the competition. Business is business.
Most hardware loses money now and has for a long time, what's your point? Everything they do is because it pushes forward their overall business strategy.The statement about caring what makes the most money literally makes no sense. XBOX hardware doesn't make money, Microsoft admitted it barely ever has. GamePass isn't increasing in subscribers the way Microsoft need it too. It's not profitable. Microsoft are literally losing money to try and buy love from gamers and buy market share.
Bethesda isn't part of "this deal".They own incredible IP from Bethesda, that library is going to massively expand in the future. Are they going to port every Spyro, Crash, Tony Hawk, WoW and Diablo game in the future to all platforms? People are so hung up on CoD they don't even talk about everything else involved in this deal.
Why is it all or nothing? They're going to keep some multiplatform and some exclusive. They've decided games like Minecraft and COD are better left multiplatform.And if they keep it all multiplatform, what's the point in being a console manufacturer.
By your logic, the console manufacturers should buy up every publisher and developer, just to ensure all games come to all consoles and nobody gets exclusivity rights.
Oh I see the difference, I quoted the exact statement MS made which is being misinterpreted. The other quote you posted is from the EU assessment, and I'm not sure how EU explanation of their thought process changes the language or meaning of what MS submitted.Do you see the difference? You only quoted the part that talks about current games when they're talking about both current AND future Zenimax games.
BOTH instances it has been stated that they have no incentive to remove the titles.
If they were talking about existing games, then they wouldn't talk about the future titles.
IMO, it was not an erroneous point. It's the entire point.An erroneous point nonetheless.
You can’t complain about others spinning when you’re doing it yourself.
I understand exactly what I'm saying. Unlike your position, I don't have to add implied words to their statement to come to my conclusion. MS stated they would continue to make Zenimax games available, and they have.
IMO, it was not an erroneous point. It's the entire point.
Xbox has presented a 10-year deal to its competition, which would span about 2 console generations. PlayStation would have 10 years at the least to form studios that can compete in the online FPS market. Sony saying they are not capable is misleading.
talentAwesome - why don’t MS avoid the risk of an acquisition and just make their own CoD killer and whatever else?
They’ve got the money evidently - what else are they missing?
Best Outcome: Microsoft gets Activision, but then after 10 years the contract expires, Call of Duty finally becomes an Xbox/Windows Exclusive.Best Outcome: MS gets Activision, but then have to release all AB+Bethesda games on PS5.
I don’t understand why people here don’t understand this. The EU regulators responded to the FTC saying Xbox made no commitment to keeping Bethesda games on competitive platforms.There's nothing believe. EU clearly said they were not deceived.
They never promised any exclusively.
Some of you all acting stupid just like Sony's Jimbo.
you know whyI don’t understand why people here don’t understand this.
Best Outcome: MS gets Activision, but then have to release all AB+Bethesda games on PS5.
There definitely is someone misunderstanding the conversation.Your entire point was to be deliberately incorrect?
Sorry if English isn’t your native language - maybe we are all misunderstanding you…
I don’t understand why people here don’t understand this. The EU regulators responded to the FTC saying Xbox made no commitment to keeping Bethesda games on competitive platforms.
Past that point it shouldn’t matter. They are just using it now because that’s all they have outside of CONSOLIDATIONS BAD. That’s why I think the deal is going through, because the points against it are weak.
If the European Comission said tomorrow that xbox deceived them and the zenimax deal wouldn’t have gone through, this would be a totally different conversation. They’ve had months to say it, and they haven’t.
There definitely is someone misunderstanding the conversation.
Negative Activision juju:I think Activision has the most to gain from this acquisition lol, they are fucking swamped with negative juju from all corners otherwise.
I don’t understand what you guys aren’t getting. “Hypothetical”, “might”, “incentive”.Are we really on this topic that Microsoft didn't mislead the regulators or misrepresent their intention about making Zenimax games exclusives?
Microsoft DID. Here is the proof. I'm gonna clear this once and for all.
I know certain people will just ignore this post and start this argument again after 10 pages in bad faith. So I'd recommend bookmarking this post and quoting it again when it (inevitably) happens again.
This is from the EU Microsoft/Zenimax acquisition document:
![]()
- The Notifying Party in this document is Microsoft.
- Microsoft says that a significant share of Zenimax game sales will happen on PS5, as compared to XSX.
- It is evident that they are talking about future games (not old games that are available on PlayStation). Or do the naysayers think that Dishonored and Wolfenstein on PS5 (not PS4) would outsell Starfield, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush, and Elder Scrolls 6 on Xbox Series X? (lol! please say you do!)
- So the argument that Microsoft was only talking about "old Zenimax games" is bullshit. It has been proven wrong here.
- "Hypothetical console exclusive strategy." This is an industry-standard term that is applied to games that are exclusive to one console and have not been released on other consoles until the point of discussion.
- Here, Microsoft defines scenarios, and until those scenarios occur, Microsoft says that a console-exclusive strategy will not work.
- The time-frame for measuring whether those Microsoft has achieved those scenarios or not was 5 years. However, they made their games exclusive 2 days after the acquisition closed. Why didn't they wait for 5 years as they implied they would?
- Microsoft clearly implied that it is extremely unlikely that they would ever achieve these results / hit those scenarios. That means they are extremely unlikely to engage in a console-exclusive strategy.
Microsoft Was Not Only Referring to Older Zenimax Games
![]()
Here is another proof that Microsoft referred to older as well as newer games.
- Cease (m. bring to an end) refers to pulling off games that are already available, i.e., Wolfenstein, Dishonored, Fallout 76.
- Limit making (m. the process of making or producing something) refers to stop making Zenimax games for PlayStation, i.e., Starfield, Elder Scrolls 6, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush.
The Case-by-Case Basis Argument Is Also Wrong
![]()
Microsoft never said to EC that they would take it case-by-case basis or will make some exclusives while keeping some multiplatform.
According to Microsoft, their future strategy regarding Zenimax games was not engaging in a "total or partial" foreclosure strategy.
The CMA also called out Microsoft's misrepresentation of their intention
![]()
"Zenimax games" -- nowhere does it say "old or existing Zenimax games."
Is Starfield a "Zenimax game?" Yes. That means it meets this definition and, therefore, counts.
Fixed for you.Says the weirdo stalking anyone who doesn't agree with them/they. Go get some therapy.
Image #1. Point #4.I don’t understand what you guys aren’t getting. “Hypothetical”, “might”, “incentive”.
Nowhere did they promise to do this. Apparently according to Microsoft it made more sense to keep them exclusive.
YikesFixed for you.
I don’t read it like that. I read it as, we only make it exclusive if it results in millions of more players in the next 5 years. It doesn’t say we will evaluate in 5 years.Image #1. Point #4.
Have 5 years been passed, and Microsoft increased the number of Xbox users to make it financially viable?
Point #5.I don’t read it like that. I read it as, we only make it exclusive if it results in millions of more players in the next 5 years. It doesn’t say we will evaluate in 5 years.
Like you said “unlikely”, 2 days later they thought it was possible.Point #5.
Microsoft says that it is implausible that it will hit those numbers, so highly unlikely they'll ever make these games exclusive (because they won't hit those numbers in the first place).
Then Microsoft made those games exclusives 2 days later. How did an "implausible" scenario become possible in only 2 days?
That's not how it works lol, "What we said 2 days ago to regulators does not apply now." That's misrepresentation.Like you said “unlikely”, 2 days later they thought it was possible.
So nowhere did they actually lie.
I don’t understand what you guys aren’t getting. “Hypothetical”, “might”, “incentive”.
Nowhere did they promise to do this. Apparently according to Microsoft it made more sense to keep them exclusive.
Appreciate your effort, impressive actually. but, there is no new information here.I'm gonna clear this once and for all.
That's not the discussion. In their decision, EC said that even if MS were to make all these games exclusive, they'd still have passed this acquisition because Zenimax has little to no impact. It's in the document.Appreciate your effort, impressive actually. but, there is no new information here.
The EC didn’t take this as a commitment. Exclusively was in question before and during the acquisition.
Why didn’t the EC come out right after the acquisition and say “hey, Mr xbox you just lied to us”. It wasn’t part of the equation. improbable =/= impossible.
I get where you see the contradiction in Microsoft’s points, but that really doesn’t matter. Because in the case of ABK, Microsoft is offering binding commitments. You can argue 10 years isn’t good enough for Sony, but you know that isn’t true.
I wish that cleared it once and for all but we both know it won’t (for some). Great post though.Are we really on this topic that Microsoft didn't mislead the regulators or misrepresent their intention about making Zenimax games exclusives?
Microsoft DID. Here is the proof. I'm gonna clear this once and for all.
I know certain people will just ignore this post and start this argument again after 10 pages in bad faith. So I'd recommend bookmarking this post and quoting it again when it (inevitably) happens again.
This is from the EU Microsoft/Zenimax acquisition document:
![]()
- The Notifying Party in this document is Microsoft.
- Microsoft says that a significant share of Zenimax game sales will happen on PS5, as compared to XSX.
- It is evident that they are talking about future games (not old games that are available on PlayStation). Or do the naysayers think that Dishonored and Wolfenstein on PS5 (not PS4) would outsell Starfield, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush, and Elder Scrolls 6 on Xbox Series X? (lol! please say you do!)
- So the argument that Microsoft was only talking about "old Zenimax games" is bullshit. It has been proven wrong here.
- "Hypothetical console exclusive strategy." This is an industry-standard term that is applied to games that are exclusive to one console and have not been released on other consoles until the point of discussion.
- Here, Microsoft defines scenarios, and until those scenarios occur, Microsoft says that a console-exclusive strategy will not work.
- The time-frame for measuring whether Microsoft has achieved those scenarios or not was 5 years. However, they made their games exclusive 2 days after the acquisition closed. Why didn't they wait for 5 years as they implied they would?
- Microsoft clearly implied that it is extremely unlikely that they would ever achieve these results / hit those scenarios. That means they are extremely unlikely to engage in a console-exclusive strategy.
Microsoft Was Not Only Referring to Older Zenimax Games
![]()
Here is another proof that Microsoft referred to older as well as newer games.
- Cease (m. bring to an end) refers to pulling off games that are already available, i.e., Wolfenstein, Dishonored, Fallout 76.
- Limit making (m. the process of making or producing something) refers to stop making Zenimax games for PlayStation, i.e., Starfield, Elder Scrolls 6, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush.
The Case-by-Case Basis Argument Is Also Wrong
![]()
Microsoft never said to EC that they would take it case-by-case basis or will make some exclusives while keeping some multiplatform.
According to Microsoft, their future strategy regarding Zenimax games was not engaging in a "total or partial" foreclosure strategy.
The CMA also called out Microsoft's misrepresentation of their intention
![]()
"Zenimax games" -- nowhere does it say "old or existing Zenimax games."
Is Starfield a "Zenimax game?" Yes. That means it meets this definition and, therefore, counts.
Not to worry, incoming 50 more pages.I wish that cleared it once and for all but we both know it won’t (for some). Great post though.
Appreciate your effort, impressive actually. but, there is no new information here.
The EC didn’t take this as a commitment.
Exclusively was in question before and during the acquisition.
Why didn’t the EC come out right after the acquisition and say “hey, Mr xbox you just lied to us”. It wasn’t part of the equation. improbable =/= impossible.
I get where you see the contradiction in Microsoft’s points, but that really doesn’t matter. Because in the case of ABK, Microsoft is offering binding commitments. You can argue 10 years isn’t good enough for Sony, but you know that isn’t true.
Are we really on this topic that Microsoft didn't mislead the regulators or misrepresent their intention about making Zenimax games exclusives?
Microsoft DID. Here is the proof. I'm gonna clear this once and for all.
I know certain people will just ignore this post and start this argument again after 10 pages in bad faith. So I'd recommend bookmarking this post and quoting it again when it (inevitably) happens again.
This is from the EU Microsoft/Zenimax acquisition document:
![]()
- The Notifying Party in this document is Microsoft.
- Microsoft says that a significant share of Zenimax game sales will happen on PS5, as compared to XSX.
- It is evident that they are talking about future games (not old games that are available on PlayStation). Or do the naysayers think that Dishonored and Wolfenstein on PS5 (not PS4) would outsell Starfield, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush, and Elder Scrolls 6 on Xbox Series X? (lol! please say you do!)
- So the argument that Microsoft was only talking about "old Zenimax games" is bullshit. It has been proven wrong here.
- "Hypothetical console exclusive strategy." This is an industry-standard term that is applied to games that are exclusive to one console and have not been released on other consoles until the point of discussion.
- Here, Microsoft defines scenarios, and until those scenarios occur, Microsoft says that a console-exclusive strategy will not work.
- The time-frame for measuring whether Microsoft has achieved those scenarios or not was 5 years. However, they made their games exclusive 2 days after the acquisition closed. Why didn't they wait for 5 years as they implied they would?
- Microsoft clearly implied that it is extremely unlikely that they would ever achieve these results / hit those scenarios. That means they are extremely unlikely to engage in a console-exclusive strategy.
Microsoft Was Not Only Referring to Older Zenimax Games
![]()
Here is another proof that Microsoft referred to older as well as newer games.
- Cease (m. bring to an end) refers to pulling off games that are already available, i.e., Wolfenstein, Dishonored, Fallout 76.
- Limit making (m. the process of making or producing something) refers to stop making Zenimax games for PlayStation, i.e., Starfield, Elder Scrolls 6, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush.
The Case-by-Case Basis Argument Is Also Wrong
![]()
Microsoft never said to EC that they would take it case-by-case basis or will make some exclusives while keeping some multiplatform.
According to Microsoft, their future strategy regarding Zenimax games was not engaging in a "total or partial" foreclosure strategy.
The CMA also called out Microsoft's misrepresentation of their intention
![]()
"Zenimax games" -- nowhere does it say "old or existing Zenimax games."
Is Starfield a "Zenimax game?" Yes. That means it meets this definition and, therefore, counts.
Are we really on this topic that Microsoft didn't mislead the regulators or misrepresent their intention about making Zenimax games exclusives?
Microsoft DID. Here is the proof. I'm gonna clear this once and for all.
I know certain people will just ignore this post and start this argument again after 10 pages in bad faith. So I'd recommend bookmarking this post and quoting it again when it (inevitably) happens again.
This is from the EU Microsoft/Zenimax acquisition document:
![]()
- The Notifying Party in this document is Microsoft.
- Microsoft says that a significant share of Zenimax game sales will happen on PS5, as compared to XSX.
- It is evident that they are talking about future games (not old games that are available on PlayStation). Or do the naysayers think that Dishonored and Wolfenstein on PS5 (not PS4) would outsell Starfield, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush, and Elder Scrolls 6 on Xbox Series X? (lol! please say you do!)
- So the argument that Microsoft was only talking about "old Zenimax games" is bullshit. It has been proven wrong here.
- "Hypothetical console exclusive strategy." This is an industry-standard term that is applied to games that are exclusive to one console and have not been released on other consoles until the point of discussion.
- Here, Microsoft defines scenarios, and until those scenarios occur, Microsoft says that a console-exclusive strategy will not work.
- The time-frame for measuring whether Microsoft has achieved those scenarios or not was 5 years. However, they made their games exclusive 2 days after the acquisition closed. Why didn't they wait for 5 years as they implied they would?
- Microsoft clearly implied that it is extremely unlikely that they would ever achieve these results / hit those scenarios. That means they are extremely unlikely to engage in a console-exclusive strategy.
Microsoft Was Not Only Referring to Older Zenimax Games
![]()
Here is another proof that Microsoft referred to older as well as newer games.
- Cease (m. bring to an end) refers to pulling off games that are already available, i.e., Wolfenstein, Dishonored, Fallout 76.
- Limit making (m. the process of making or producing something) refers to stop making Zenimax games for PlayStation, i.e., Starfield, Elder Scrolls 6, Redfall, Hi-Fi Rush.
The Case-by-Case Basis Argument Is Also Wrong
![]()
Microsoft never said to EC that they would take it case-by-case basis or will make some exclusives while keeping some multiplatform.
According to Microsoft, their future strategy regarding Zenimax games was not engaging in a "total or partial" foreclosure strategy.
The CMA also called out Microsoft's misrepresentation of their intention
![]()
"Zenimax games" -- nowhere does it say "old or existing Zenimax games."
Is Starfield a "Zenimax game?" Yes. That means it meets this definition and, therefore, counts.
That’s exactly how it works. Again, you are misinterpreting the text. Microsoft did nothing wrong, they didn’t lie, and didn’t do anything illegal. Your interpretation is just incorrect.That's not how it works lol, "What we said 2 days ago to regulators does not apply now." That's misrepresentation.
So literally nothing changed for Microsoft that made them go "oh, now, it's possible."
- Did Microsoft gain all those new users they said they would? No. So why did they make those games exclusive?
- Are there any signs that users are shifting from PS5 to XBS? No. They are being outsold by PS5 tremendously, and their YoY sales are decreasing now.
And if you say this, you're also accepting that what Microsoft submitted in the documents to EU was incorrect. It was so incorrect that MS had to change their minds just 2 days later.
And if their submission was wrong, it is akin to misrepresenting.
Not much. The best Microsoft can do is waive the 10-year COD agreement for PlayStation and Nintendo. But the FTC can just discard it like the CMA did.If FTC brings this up in court, what do you think MS would counter it with?
No. Also, you haven't answered any of my questions.That’s exactly how it works. Again, you are misinterpreting the text. Microsoft did nothing wrong, they didn’t lie, and didn’t do anything illegal. Your interpretation is just incorrect.
Franchises are not protected from going exclusive, unless that was set before the deal, which it never was (nothing binding was set, except this vague statement from xbox didnt SWAY the legal process). TES 6 wasn't promised to any platform before the deal.
If FTC brings this up in court, what do you think MS would counter it with?
Of course not, it is many years out. PS6 would be a hypothetical. Does it really make sense to include a franchise that has one game every 15 years or so in an argument about a merger that includes a franchise that has the top selling new game every single year?So will TES 6 be released on PS5?
Cause you know, there's a playerbase already on PlayStation for the franchise.
This is not what I think - this is exactly what MS has countered it with so far in the FTC case
Any suggestion that Microsoft’s statements to the European Commission about ZeniMax were misleading is incorrect. Microsoft explicitly said it would honor Sony’s existing exclusivity rights and approach exclusivity for future game titles on a case-by-case basis, which is exactly what it has done. The European Commission agrees it was not misled, stating publicly the day after the Complaint that Microsoft did not make any “commitments” to the European Commission,
nor did the European Commission “rely on any statements made by Microsoft about the future distribution strategy concerning ZeniMax’s games.” Instead, the European Commission cleared the transaction “unconditionally as it concluded that the transaction would not raise competition concerns.”
Basically the same argument as that trotted out here.
Doesn't this kinda refute what MS said. So how would they counter this if FTC bring this up? That isn't a bullet proof statement. It got a lot of holes in it...... nor did the European Commission “rely on any statements made by Microsoft about the future distribution strategy concerning ZeniMax’s games.”
Why would it release on PlayStation though? I’m pretty sure MS bought Bethesda, to make those games exclusive. Was there really any doubt that all future Bethesda games will be Xbox/PC/ Gamepass?So will TES 6 be released on PS5?
Cause you know, there's a playerbase already on PlayStation for the franchise.
It makes about as much sense as Nintendo or Sony putting their exclusives on rival consoles. Sure it would sell a few extra copies on an extra platform but at the expense of diluting attraction to your own service. Utterly defeats the point given that Xbox needs excludes just as much as Nintendo or PlayStation.Of course not, it is many years out. PS6 would be a hypothetical. Does it really make sense to include a franchise that has one game every 15 years or so in an argument about a merger that includes a franchise that has the top selling new game every single year?
I still think it makes sense for MS to release Starfield on PS5 near the end of the generation. It is still money on the table. The draw is gamepass day one for no additional cost. 3 years out it is still an important exclusive, but it would do more good for the shareholders to sell a million plus copies on PS5. Of course announcing anything like this now decreases the draw of the "timed" exclusive.
I think people deliberately took it out of context to make MS look like they are lying about keeping COD multiformat. I don’t believe people were really so daft as to expect MS to buy a company for twice what they paid for Minecraft, that makes more than one game and has multiple studios and just throw all the future games everywhere. I also feel like this is where people make the argument that MS should be a publisher comes from. It’s just reads like flippant, circle jerking especially when they go off the deep end and suggest MS is gonna get out of the console business, if they don’t get ABK. As we have seen over the last few pages of this thread.Oh, so they haven't removed games from other platforms.
Edit: here is the quote.
"And if you go back to the Zenimax titles, all of the Zenimax games that we said are gonna ship on PlayStation, we have shipped on PlayStation. All of the games when we acquired Zenimax that were available on PlayStation, at the time that we acquired them, we have continued to do content updates on PlayStation and PC."
It sounds more like people took what he said out of context... That almost never happens.
With this logic GTA6 should be able to be console exclusive with no issue right?Of course not, it is many years out. PS6 would be a hypothetical. Does it really make sense to include a franchise that has one game every 15 years or so in an argument about a merger that includes a franchise that has the top selling new game every single year?
I still think it makes sense for MS to release Starfield on PS5 near the end of the generation. It is still money on the table. The draw is gamepass day one for no additional cost. 3 years out it is still an important exclusive, but it would do more good for the shareholders to sell a million plus copies on PS5. Of course announcing anything like this now decreases the draw of the "timed" exclusive.
With MS terrible mismanagement of studios ??? Definitely is not the best outcome for anyone who likes ABK games in thr long termBest Outcome: MS gets Activision, but then have to release all AB+Bethesda games on PS5.