Yoboman
Member
Nope. Especially with Sledgehammer as the UK Government will never have recognised it as an entity of Microsoft. They will not be able to operate.
Either way it's a dumb cope to think something like that would realistically happen
Microsoft / Activision Deal Approval Watch |OT| (MS/ABK close)
- Status
Either way it's a dumb cope to think something like that would realistically happen
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
- Pixel Opus
- Malaysia Studio
- Firesprite (with 3 teams)
- Insomniac's 3rd team that created Miles Morales and is now working on Wolverine
- Santa Monica's second team creating a new game
- Sucker Punch's second team working on the multiplayer game
- Naughty Dog's 2nd and 3rd team.
- San Diego's new studio working on Uncharted with Naughty Dog
- Then Sony also set up new studios and is funding them exclusively, which is basically the same thing as setting up new studios: Haven, Deviation Games, Ballistic Moons
graywolf323
Member
feynoob
Banned
Posting a fanboy twitter thread that contains another fanboy thread.
Does that mean both negative power cancel each other?
poppabk
Cheeks Spread for Digital Only Future
They bought Naughty Dog, they bought Firesprite, they bought Insomniac, they bought Sucker Punch. So basically every game of note for the PS5 from Sony has been from a company they bought or that was established over a decade ago.
It's just how the business is nowadays, the big gaming companies are like big pharma, they purchase up companies that are ready to make the next step, and the little companies are all hoping to get bought because the transition from AA to AAA is too expensive a jump for them to make.
phil_t98
#SonyToo
Look how successful fortnite is and it's free and generates billions
Fess
Member
Lol MS ain't pulling out of the UK, even if we ignore how irrational that strategy would be do you think the stock owners will vote yes for such a move?
They could possibly make their own deals with Activision Blizzard afterwards, for additional exclusive content or to get Gamepass releases faster than they go up on PS+, if Activision Blizzard is still interested in having them in their bed without a happy ending.
They could possibly make their own deals with Activision Blizzard afterwards, for additional exclusive content or to get Gamepass releases faster than they go up on PS+, if Activision Blizzard is still interested in having them in their bed without a happy ending.
Daneel Elijah
Member
You can't make a difference between buying a company that has been comandited by Sony to make games since basically all its existence and a company that needs to be brough to finally make games for them? Sony may get some laughs for the "family" and organic growth but they did work closely with many studios for years, if not decades before buying them. Think of it like the aeronautic industry were Airbus and Boeing have suppliers that work for them, some do for both and some do it exclusively for one of the two manufacturers. Sony choose to publish games and letting them having their independence when it comes to stuff like HR, and to not have too much money be stuck in things like buildings needed for the studio operations.
Games like Fall guys and High on life are not just a question of money you know? Both games needed and got what they wanted to succeed. Games like Returnal, Sifu and Stray are not made by big teams, but indies that Sony accepted to help with funding and marketing opportunities. Remember No Man's Sky? Same. The business is not just take my money and do what I said! But trying to find the right fit in a changing market. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are not just consoles manufacturers, and as publishers they do not try to buy all compagnies that are around them, but the ones that they think have to most potential and compatibility with them. If Sony buy the makers of Kena in a few months, will you admit that they simply got back what they had invested in them before, or will it be a "they bought them" and not the result of the work between them ? If Microsoft had convinced Bungie to go back to them, what would have been your opinion of that?
IllegalLemon
Member
Quite the paradox isn't it?Posting a fanboy twitter thread that contains another fanboy thread.
Does that mean both negative power cancel each other?
ToadMan
Member
There are people gaming who are friendless, play enough games to make GP worthwhile, and yet are so retarded they can't see the discounts offered in various places for GP?
You really have a low opinion of xbox gamers if you believe they're all hermit retards with zero tech knowledge…
Is this how you'd describe yourself?
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ToadMan
Member
It wouldn't happen.
And even in this impossible outcome, MS would just make multiplat ABK games available in the UK market.
It's cheaper to do that than lose the income of being unable to operate there at all.
SneakersSO
Member
This is just an incredible post LOL.
So, before any other point gets even brought up, you should understand: the purchase agreement signed by MS & ATVI specifically states that the deal must unanimously pass 4 specific regulators (3 of whom are the FTC/EC/CMA). Should any of these 4 regulators move to block the deal, then its dead. So there is no cutting off the UK, the 2nd biggest market for Xbox in the world, is a possibility for Microsoft. Mind you, this would block Microsoft, not just Xbox, but all of MS' potential ability to do business in the UK; the UK government and MS are not going to war over ATVI. Absolutely ludicrous.
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ToadMan
Member
The CMA stipulated why they have jurisdiction in their complaint. I don't think anyone contests that.
Microsoft Ltd is a firm in the UK.
If MS breaks UK law by proceeding with a prohibited acquisition, they will be in court, fined, assets frozen, sales frozen, damages liable and on and on.
From the 5th largest economy in the world. Meta bought giphy - the CMA insisted on divestment of giphy and rather than divest, Meta shutdown giphy's advertising arm just to avoid falling foul of UK regulation.
In this impossible hypothetical scenario, MS will just make ABK games mulitplat in the UK, and continue to make money there rather than lose it, and continue on.
Oh and if the CMA is prepared to prohibit the acquisition, the US will follow suit. Regulators don't work in isolation on these global matters.
In reality CMA has to approve or prohibit, and MS have to concede enough to get that approval, or back out.
ToadMan
Member
Incorrect.
If MS continued with a prohibited acquisition, UK courts can halt their operations and/or seize assets, freeze bank accounts, suspend operating licenses for business operations and more.
MS will go multiplat in the UK before falling foul of that.
As much as you may like to think the UK has no authority in what MS does in other countries. They could only ban games or stop software sales in the UK.
Imagine a world where to do anything a business you need approval from every nation on earth or they start seizing ur assets.
It would be similar to Google in China, play by their rules or don't operate there.
Now again I'm not saying they would choose that but I am saying they will weigh the decision against a $3B loss and make a decision based on what makes the most or loses the least money.
ToadMan
Member
Incorrect. Microsoft Ltd is a UK firm. They can and would be prosecuted.
That's exactly what can and does happen.
China is one one of the regulatory bodies MS must get approval from for the ABK acquisition.
You really are addressing your own points. Well done.
For a deal to pass, US, China, EC and UK must all approve.
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The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
What do you base your bias on?
Microsoft had their own store before they release the games on steam.
They don't see Steam as a competitor. Microsoft knows you dont win the pc gamers if you leave steam.
EA tried and failed, and are back on steam.
knocksky
Banned
Oh, your still pushing the nonsense that nobody is paying for gamepass.
Unless you have the exact figures, your opinion is as worthless as someone saying the opposite. Getting a load of thumbs up from the usual suspects doesn't make your post any truer either.
Otherwise post your data
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ToTTenTranz
Banned
Ok that's valid and all, but I'm thinking of another alternative here. Please bear with me because this plan might be hard to follow for some. I mean at the very least it seems to be nearly impossible for Phil Spencer and his team of executives to grasp this plan, so I guess it must be too complex for them.
However, I'm optimistic that this an actually possible feat if this small 2 trillion dollar company really puts their heart and focus into this plan I'm concocting. I really believe that within Microsoft's relatively modest pool of 220 000 employees there should be someone who can go through with this plan, and from their $68 billion annual net profit they might be able to gather around enough resources to make it happen.
So here goes nothing, buckle up and try to keep up with the complexity of this "Make Xbox Greater Than Ever Before" plan:
Step 1: Stop being shit at managing the dev studios and IPs they already own.
ToadMan
Member
Nobody is paying full price for GP on a regular basis.
If you are one of those friendless luddites who just loves gaming but can't manage Google - go here and save money. You're welcome
https://www.techradar.com/deals/cheapest-xbox-game-pass-deals-prices
This forum is full of my data - there's a search function.
Now go ahead and post your data to refute.
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Bumblebeetuna
Member
Hyperbole isn't an argument. They've had road bumps like any other publisher, but they aren't "shit" at managing their studios or IPs. When Phil took the Xbox division he had a tiny stable of studios. When he became the corporate leader of Xbox and was only answering to Nadella (2017? 2018? I don't remember) that's when they started expanding. We aren't even at a point with these new studios where there can be shit management. You're only making my point for me, this stupid idea that they can just throw money at the studios they already have and it's somehow going to magically make things better.
Of course, the way GAF works, even if they did that, the warriors here would just bitch about MS changing the studios culture. Just like the criticism goes from too hands on to too hands off depending on the time of day. Or how their vision for the industry will lead to rapidly developed filler trash for GamePass, but somehow they are also "shit" at managing studios because the developers are actually taking their time making games and new IPs and NOT rushing out crap.
Like I said, the sooner some of the warriors here just accept it, the less it will sting.
feynoob
Banned
Mate, you are overestimating average gamers.
Most people have no knowledge about these stuff. Not to mention these steps you need to get those is hard.
Gamepass has a restriction, which doesn't allow you to get those cheap offers if you had the sub 2 months ago. You need to least not use gamepass for 3 months to apply to such offers.
Even if people are doing what you said correctly, there are still 11 more months that needs to be paid. That is total of $165 which covers those free/cheap months.
And as for the 3 year trick, MS will have scrapped that if 1m-5m people were to use such a trick.
ToadMan
Member
You have got to be kidding.
People who fibd signing up for discounted GP hard, aren't gamers who game enough to sign up for GP in the first place.
Yea it does. Just renew after 3 years.
Although I personally won't.
Well GP subs are low then because that "trick" is still there and renewable.
So tell me - how much do you pay for your GP sub?
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feynoob
Banned
Dude, there were people here in this forum that had no clue about this trick at all. Even though people were writing articles about these tricks. How do you expect average gamers who don't view forums to know this trick?
It's not an easy trick. You have to be fresh of gamepass for certain period in order to get that 1$ coupon. if you activate gamepass before the cooldown period, you will not be able to do it again, until you meet the requirements.
That trick is a myth at this point. Unless you are person who does research on how to save money, you won't know about that trick at all.
You can ask
adamsapple
on how many people have any clue about this trick. As for me, I pay $15 because I couldn't hit that 3 month period cooldown.
I might do it this time, since I stopped paying gamepass these past months.
Astray
Member
Agree with you on the fairness part, Activision put itself up for sale, MS paid up, so any question of fairness or not is just not applicable here. It's really the same for whatever Sony/Squeenix deals happen too. Exclusivity in itself is not evil and I have no idea how that notion became accepted, I haven't bought a Nintendo console in ages (last one I actually paid money for was the SNES!), so no Mario no Zelda etc, and I still lived (My wife gave me an OLED Switch for my last birthday tho lol, was planning on waiting for a Switch 2 whenever that comes out).
My personal issues with the MSFT/ATVI deal are that it doesn't really create what I want from that market (more new IP), this is actually what I bought my Xbox for. I am far more excited to be able to try out Avowed than I am for being able to potentially play the new Doom exclusively. In that sense, it's someone burning a lot of cash without giving me any real benefit I didn't already have before. This is far more of a personal want from the industry tho so I'd understand if you don't share that concern.
Astray
Member
My brother in law got GPU for even cheaper using the Turkish store's cards + a VPN, he got it for like.. $130 for 36 months!
Microsoft is clearly aware of all this, but they're allowing it rn to build share.
Mr.Phoenix
Member
The same MS that said they don't see PlayStation as a competitor?
And yes, MS had their store before... they didn't have all the gaming IPs they stand to have soon especially if/when this deal goes through.
As I said, its common sense, imagine a store where your GP sub means that every new game costs 10% less than they do anywhere else.
And you really believe MS doesn't see Steam as a competitor when steam is currently pushing their Linux initiative hard?
Hendrick's
If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
I pay full price because it's easy and I don't have to think about. And because Phil asked me too. This obsession with downplaying Game Pass success by claiming no one pays for it is just silly.
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Which most people don't know about. I've told people about it and they had no idea you could do that. GAF =/= IRL.
POKEYCLYDE
Member
I think you're more likely to get new IP from Activision under Microsoft then if they stay independent. Hi Fi Rush, Pentiment and Grounded show Microsoft is willing to let developers follow passion projects.
Gamepass requires a breadth of content, and smaller niche games like Pentiment have found great success being on Gamepass. The whole Gamepass model really allows for studios to take risks on making different experiences.
That's one of my biggest hopes for the acquisition, that some of the very talented studios under Activision will get to work on something other than Call of Duty. Even if the acquisition passes, it's a toss up if that'll happen though, but it's far more likely under Microsoft.
Thirty7ven
Banned
See this is one of the big problems, the made up stories. How misinformation just spreads through the air and becomes part of the conversation.
Activision didn't put itself for sale. Microsoft is the one who proposed it.
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DrFigs
Member
There are always ways to get gamepass for much cheaper than its normal price. Even on the xbox website, it's been selling for just a dollar a month. It's why I don't think it can be making profit.
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Fess
Member
I'm the only one among my friends who used the cheap Gamepass prepayment deal.
I used the prepayment deal on PS too and got PS+ Premium for $5/month. Same thing there, nobody else did it.
The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
I do. Cba to do all that shit to get it cheaper, I'm not broke.
SteelCurtain 59
Member
Those devs on those extra teams could've joined studios that made Xbox or 3rd party games, therefore they're taking away something from competitors, by the logic most people use here.
Also if that is the criteria required for your approval, glad to see you approve of every Xbox acquisition so far, as those are massive value adds to Xbox gamers in several ways that anybody not living in Playstation fantasyland is able to see. Xbox gamers will get more games, have less games taken away by Playstation 3rd party exclusives (as Xbox's increase market share makes it more expensive for Sony to buy exclusivity), have way more and better games on their Game Pass subscription. Allows smaller games like Pentiment and Grounded and Hi-Fi Rush to be made that likely wouldn't had they not been given financial freedom of being part of Xbox instead of independent. Only Sony fanboys think this deal wouldn't be a huge win for Xbox gamers (and not talking about fanboy ammunition because fanboys on both sides are annoying)
Personally Xbox being competitive is in the best interest of all gamers, competition is what drives innovation and quality. The main reason people are upset here is not because of "the way they're doing it" but because some people here would rather go to prison than play something that is made by "Xbox". It's quite transparent
MasterCornholio
Member
The UK seems like an awesome place to conduct business.
And thats how I take care of my tickets.
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SportsFan581
Member
Weird thing would be that because of how profitable ABK is by percentage, there would be a chance that the situation could be spun as being necessary to protect the best interests of shareholders. If the UK profit number for MS was less than the 2-3B in profits ABK typically turns out (I have no clue what the numbers are).
There are some people in this thread that don't realize that these regulatory boards aren't a consortium which I find amusing since there are many instances where they aren't on the same page with each other. And any position to the contrary wipes away the credibility of the agencies themselves. Plus, there is the little issue where the FTC has already made their decision to file suit, I guess they figure that the FTC would go back a sue double because MS were meanies to the UK. The US case will be decided by a judge based on whether or not the acquisition violates US law, what happens elsewhere will not be a direct consideration in that (assuming some kind of amicable arrangement is not reached before hand). As evidenced by the fact that the FTC has approved deals (either directly by never filing suit or indirectly by dropping cases or not filing appeals to court losses) that other regulatory bodies have declined. The only way the foreign cases matter to the FTC case is if MS is blocked elsewhere and makes the decision to not fight further or move forward without those territories, in which case the deal dies without the result of the FTC case being needed.
Any major move like this, regardless of how unlikely, would be well planned by MS. They would be aware of where any headwinds would be coming from. People act like it would be something that Nadella moved forward with in the middle of a midnight Twitter tirade. LOL
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Gamezone
Gold Member
Microsoft, as every other publisher, knows that people won't buy their PC trough MS Store. It's not like they are suddenly going to switch for an all in approach to MS Store.
knocksky
Banned
No, your data that backs up that "nobody is paying full price ' not a link to deals.
I'll wait.
feynoob
Banned
feynoob
Banned
Maybe pay attention to this.
What you are going about is first month-3month for new new people, or those who are not using gamepass for a certain period.
You need to understand that these people will have to pay the regular price after that period, or else they can't use gamepass.
This isn't a life time trick, which you can use it every month.
Kilau
Member
Well for me it's gonna suck when my gamepass sub is just Activision/Blizzard shit I have zero interest in with the occasional other first party release.
I know it's personal preference, but I don't play CoD or anything else they release, and I can see the well drying up for going after fun and unique titles to fill out the service like they do now.
This deal won't change anything for me on PS5 but if what I fear happens to gamepass, I'll likely let my subscription lapse.
SteelCurtain 59
Member
Are we really back to the "Everybody gets Game Pass for basically nothing" argument again?
fred420170
Member
The UK would collapse if MS as a company left. Every corporation on the planet runs windows. Yes, graphic designers and creators use MAC os but for the business side it's windows, azure, office etc.
splattered
Member
I used the $1 promotion for the first couple years of GPU, but once it ran out i happily let it continue on at $15 per month.
I pay full price for GP on a regular basis.
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