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 .
Status
Not open for further replies.
Godot25 said:
What?
If Microsoft will buy ABK and it will not move "needle" in terms of "Xbox vs. PlayStation" then literally nothing will happen. COD is still on PlayStation. ABK is still producing same content as they are now and their profits are Microsoft's profits. Add 30% cut for Xbox into profits, since Microsoft don't need to split it.
If ABK will move a needle, than it means more Game Pass subscribers, more money in Xbox ecosystem from players etc.

Only way that Microsoft will loose a lot of money is that COD will somehow stop being relevant.
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To give perspective on that, ABK in 2022 had 7.5bn revenue (and it was down significantly from the previous year), which is around half of what MS brought over the same period.

The scenario where nothing changes and ABK keeps operating as usual but under MS ownership still means +50% revenue for MS.
 
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bitbydeath said:
People expecting it to go through without issue and then find out CMA haven't moved from their decision of divestment would cause some waves.

*Popcorn ready*

Regina Hall Popcorn GIF
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Come on dude, this has to be the most pop corn filled moment since Avengers Endgame!!! The entire drama/controversy by gamers and the media since the acquisition was announced has been spicy so far, and I'm probably enjoying it far too much.
 
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feynoob said:
Online mode generates tons of mtx sales.
If Xbox continues to lose those users, then they are losing those money to other platforms. And potentially game sales.

It's why it's critical for Xbox to fix that issue asap.

If COD can't help them, the situation will be very bad.

People won't wait for you that long.
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We are talking about different things. Whatever.
 
Chukhopops said:
To give perspective on that, ABK in 2022 had 7.5bn revenue (and it was down significantly from the previous year), which is around half of what MS brought over the same period.

The scenario where nothing changes and ABK keeps operating as usual but under MS ownership still means +50% revenue for MS.
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Yeah, Microsoft Gaming will become bigger than Windows at this point. Not sure about Office division though.
 
Three said:
You can't force somebody to sell your things in their store unless they had a binding contract. If regulators had an issue they would force sideloading but they can reject whatever content they like for whatever reason they like. You bring up apple yet fail to mention it just won against epic for removing its game from the store.
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Of course you can't force somebody to sell anything, the context is relevant. Sony can block a new IP from PlayStation. But, removing or adding games to a games store is only important if it's essential content and will lead to SLC. This whole arguement began when someone suggested Sony would block content from PS. I'm saying that:
- Given that CoD has been on PlayStation and has a player base there
- IF it's proven that CoD on playstation is essential content for Microsoft and its blocking by Sony will lead to SLC and foreclosure, then they can't just block the game from it.
Image Microsoft blocking a certain program from Windows and leads to foreclosure, you bet your ass Microsoft would be in trouble.
 
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Sony said:
Of course you can't force somebody to sell anything, the context is relevant. Sony can block a new IP from PlayStation. But, removing or adding games to a games store is only important if it's essential content and will lead to SLC. This whole arguement began when someone suggested Sony would block content from PS. I'm saying that:
- Given that CoD has been on PlayStation and has a player base there
- IF it's proven that CoD on playstation is essential content for Microsoft and its blocking by Sony will lead to SLC and foreclosure, then they can't just block the game from it.
Image Microsoft blocking a certain program from Windows and leads to foreclosure, you bet your ass Microsoft would be in trouble.
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Sony can't do that for previous games or for future games that fall within the marketing agreement period (2024, I guess).

But beyond that? I think they can choose not to release future COD games on PlayStation if they so wish to. There won't be any legal binding on them if they do not want to allow a product -- for whatever reason -- on their platform.

I don't think they will do it, but they can.
 
I assume that ABK will be run with autonomy, and will strike it's own deals and so on.

Currently, someone pays Activision so that they can have their console ident on adverts.

And it just occurred to me that Activision could sign another deal with Playstation to market the game once the current agreement is up, but as with the current ads, there'll be a publisher logo and developer logo on them.

If you were Playstation, would you pay to put an ad up that says "Xbox Game Studios present..." Will Microsoft keep their brand off the ads until the current contract is up, take Sony's money and chuckle to themselves as Sony pay to advertise not only their product, but their entire platform?
 
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Mr Reasonable said:
I assume that ABK will be run with autonomy, and will strike it's own deals and so on.

Currently, someone pays Activision so that they can have their console ident on adverts.

And it just occurred to me that Activision could sign another deal with Playstation to market the game once the current agreement is up, but as with the current ads, there'll be a publisher logo and developer logo on them.

If you were Playstation, would you pay to put an ad up that says "Xbox Game Studios present..." Will Microsoft keep their brand off the ads until the current contract is up, take Sony's money and chuckle to themselves as Sony pay to advertise not only their product, but their entire platform?
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Activision will not be a part of "Xbox Game Studios". Just like Bethesda isn't.
 
No matter the outcome for tomorrow, I want you guys to know that I love you guys ❣️.

As a neutral, I spent a lot of good time with you guys.

Hope we can cherish these memories, before we rip each other tomorrow.
 
Sony said:
- IF it's proven that CoD on playstation is essential content for Microsoft and its blocking by Sony will lead to SLC and foreclosure, then they can't just block the game from it.
Image Microsoft blocking a certain program from Windows and leads to foreclosure, you bet your ass Microsoft would be in trouble.
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MS can't block something from windows but it can block whatever it likes from the windows store. The same goes for the Apple app store. You can argue that Apple devices should allow sideloading but you can't argue that Apple are not allowed to deny sale of whatever they like on the Apple store. Even if sony has a current publisher contract it usually asks for parity of releases much like MS contracts do, then they can refuse to sell it on their store. There is nothing illegal there, but it's doubtful they will cut off their nose to spite the face.
 
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feynoob said:
No matter the outcome for tomorrow, I want you guys to know that I love you guys ❣️.

As a neutral, I spent a lot of good time with you guys.

Hope we can cherish these memories, before we rip each other tomorrow.
Click to expand...

It's been a fun debate and discussion. Just like anything worth talking about there are going to be disagreements, sometimes heated, but at the end of the day you all are my GAF pals and no outcome tomorrow will change that.

massaging toronto blue jays GIF by MLB
 
US bros here is your date for tomorrow.

The majority of updates from the CMA have happened around 1PM CEST (only a couple happened around 12PM CEST).

But final reports can be published earlier, as early as 8AM CEST.

So, get your F5 ready for early morning in Europe/UK :D
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PaintTinJr said:
Completely plausible if PlayStation kill CoD' cross-play, but that would fall foul of degrading CoD on PlayStation and failing to honour the parity agreement because Xbox/PC players would then only have one account/password login, whereas PlayStation would have an inferior (non-parity) situation with two - PSN account & Microsoft account - so getting that remedied by regulators like the CMA should be pretty easy.

In fact, PlayStation baiting Microsoft into doing partial foreclosure stuff like that could be an easy way for them to get this deal reversed, given that they are binding themselves to certain behaviours for at least a decade.

I still suspect that if/when the CMA pass the deal Sony will begin suing ATVI over the marketing deal they have, saying that selling to a competitor breaches the contract and makes it impossible for Sony to enjoy the "good will" that was probably written into the contract that ATVI were supposed to provide.
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Minecraft already requires a Microsoft account to enable crossplay on PS consoles. It's not the issue that you think it is.
 
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I am not sure what everyone here is trying to build up to; from what I can see and have observed, the deal is passing/getting approved. There shouldn't be any new fireworks :D.

Tomorrow, we are all just getting confirmation of what we already know is going to happen.
But, yes, we are close to the finish line. Almost there.
 
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feynoob said:
That is educational post. Don't know why you have an issue with it.
The frog watch and the luxury watch comparison is hilarious though.
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It's embarrassing enough to be part of twitter, is double as embarrassing to defend the downward spiral of shit the platform as become ever since Space Karen took over.
I understand she needs the platform though, and the engagement. But it doesn't make it better.
 
Bernardougf said:
Of course loosing COD brand hurts Sony, I know that, I only saying that if people think that MS has so much to loose from COD at the point of damaging the brand and business making it IMPOSSIBLE to take away COD from playstation it opens the question why sony would not follow this strategy.

I just cant agree with this absolutes people use as if they had MS inside plans in their desk, IMPOSSIBLE, NEVER, are heavy words to say when you dont really know jackshit about the plans and goals of said company.

People talk busness sense, charity and etc and forget the xbox beeing burning money for years without MS doing shit, if money was the only goal for xbox/MS they had 20 thousands options to grow and be lucrative, they just bought bethesda and choose to loose more money making it exclusive, "ah theres a case to be made for bla bla" a case to be made is not a fact and the only fact you have is you where going to sell millions of dollars of starfield on PS and now you will not, so money is not the ONLY driving force for xbox and untill now never has been.

Im not here saying MS is going to take COD away from playstation, Im not saying that it makes crude business sense or not to do it, Im only saying that for a trillion dollar company that none os us has any inside information, beeing here all high and mighty pretending to be an MS executive saying they will NEVER take COD away, that it is impossible is just ridiculous and pretentious. Is basically PR talk and wishfull thinking copied direct from the lies Spencer likes to spills all so often. As he did for bethesda.
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The strangest part of this post is you chiding people for making assumptions about a tech behemoth…just moments after you yourself confidently warbled on about 'xbox losing money'

Sony isn't going to block COD off PLayStation. They know it could backfire spectacularly. There's absolutely no need for such a move.

Of course nothing is impossible. But when something is so extremely implausible, then its not worth discussing.
 
X-Wing said:
It's embarrassing enough to be part of twitter, is double as embarrassing to defend the downward spiral of shit the platform as become ever since Space Karen took over.
I understand she needs the platform though, and the engagement. But it doesn't make it better.
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Twitter has always been shit. It's just more of a FFA now, rather than "officially" curated.
 
Ozriel said:
The strangest part of this post is you chiding people for making assumptions about a tech behemoth…just moments after you yourself confidently warbled on about 'xbox losing money'

Sony isn't going to block COD off PLayStation. They know it could backfire spectacularly. There's absolutely no need for such a move.

Of course nothing is impossible. But when something is so extremely implausible, then its not worth discussing.
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Not sure why Sony will care if MS owns Activision anyway. The game will still be on PlayStation, and Sony will still get money for each copy sold. The only thing Sony loses is their logo on the game trailer and their timed exclusive content. PS fans are still going to buy COD on their PS no matter what. The game will STILL sell more on PS vs. Xbox, especially considering all the COD games will be "free" on Game Pass.
 
X-Wing said:
That attempt of a person has been really quiet lately.

Holy shit...


She really is a mess.
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Did you even bother to read the thread? I feel like you just outed yourself for reading the first tweet and jumping to the wrong conclusion.

X-Wing said:
It's embarrassing enough to be part of twitter, is double as embarrassing to defend the downward spiral of shit the platform as become ever since Space Karen took over.
I understand she needs the platform though, and the engagement. But it doesn't make it better.
Click to expand...

She's not really defending what it's turned into, though.
It isn't her thread that's the embarrassing thing here.
 
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