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[The Fuzz damn you!]

Tbh, I definitely expect some people in businesses to have this mentality. Matt Booty must just be that guy. I have them in my business. They even come up with "fun" names to express their business plan such as "operation kill...said competitor"

It's just their way of driving themselves to entertain themselves i guess, to come up with plans to take marketshare.

Weirdos I guess.

Yeah

Just a fun, meaningless name, "operation kill..." or "embrace, extend, extinguish."

Nothing to it. No need to take it literally.

It's not like they have repeatedly done, or tried to do exactly that multiple time over the years, ever since their very formation, starting with OS/2, moving through Word Perfect (Word), Lotus Notes (Excel), Java (.NET, aspx), Flash (Silverlight), most infamously and successfully Netscape (Internet Explorer), even fucking email protocols (MAPI).

And an email detailing how this strategy could apply to the gaming sector couldn't possibly have anything to do with the implementation of the "extend" part of this strategy with their acquisition of Zenimax/Bethesda and then attempt at acquiring Activision, combined with a loss-leading subscription gaming service that aims to deny platform holders like Apple and Sony their 30% cut.

Oh no.

This is just some meaningless boardroom talk. Don't take it so seriously, guys.

Jesus Christ, you fucking shills must own MS shares. I honestly cannot fathom anyone genuinely being this clueless.

 

[RoadHazard]

Er... the Move controller - which launched after the Wii - looks and behaves more like a Wii controller than a Wii looks and behaves like an EyeToy. It's almost as if Nintendo weren't copying the EyeToy, and Sony were absolutely copying the Wii using the technology they had. Its a strategy they've used again with the PSVR1, which repurposes Move technology. And that's ignoring that Sony took rumble out of the original PS3 controllers so they could have their PS3 controllers with built-in motion-controls at launch, making the controller worse but making sure Nintendo didn't have the market to themselves, and their Move controller marketing deliberately compared itself to the Wii controller, to ensure players were drawing the comparison Sony wanted them to.

The Move was very obviously a response to the Wii, BUT Sony were doing motion based party games etc long before the Wii. So it's not like Sony never had the idea before copying Nintendo, they just never had the same success with it.

And no, the Sixaxis not having rumble wasn't because of that, that was just a bad excuse for what was really a patent dispute. And they rather quickly rectified it with the DS3.

 

[nikolino840]

This must be the first time in the history of businesses that one company plans to put out the rivalling company. Why can't we just play nice, it's only business after all!

 

[Godot25]

Company X wants Company Z gone from market so they would dominate...

...more news at 11am

I'm sure Sony would be sad if Microsoft was gone from console business. For sure.

 

[Chechack]

People talk as if this happened in 2019 and this doesnt have to do with the merger like kinda forget 2019 - 2021 covid happened and put halt in near many big plans

 

[midnightAI]

It doesn't matter if it was 2019, in fact it makes it more obvious about their long term plans. Lawyers will also show that years before all these current acquisitions this was MS's plan all along.

It seems to me that the plan is to buy up all these big publishers, make deals for 5 years to play the good guy, seem as though they are playing nice having COD on all platforms. Then in 5 years announce their new console and announce at the same time all these games (Minecraft included) are now exclusive.
My only wrench in that plan is that MS should have made Starfield multiplatform also to make it even more believable.

 

[Heisenberg007]

It doesn't matter if it was 2019, in fact it makes it more obvious about their long term plans. Lawyers will also show that years before all these current acquisitions this was MS's plan all along.

It seems to me that the plan is to buy up all these big publishers, make deals for 5 years to play the good guy, seem as though they are playing nice having COD on all platforms. Then in 5 years announce their new console and announce at the same time all these games (Minecraft included) are now exclusive.
My only wrench in that plan is that MS should have made Starfield multiplatform also to make it even more believable.

Exactly. People who are arguing "but it's 2019" are clearly in the defense mode, trying to protect the underdog $2 trillion corporation.

Here is how the timeline looks:

• Microsoft starts buying independent studios and making their third-party multiplatform games exclusive in 2018.
• In 2019, they already had a strategy in place to eliminate Playstation by drying up their games.
• In 2020, they closed Zenimax acquisition, the negotiations for which must have started a long time ago. For reference, Sony/Bungie negotiations ran for 20 months before they publicly announced the acquisition. 20 months for Zenimax would put the timeline to, guess what ... January 2019
• In 2022, MS announced the ABK acquisition and also announced that they are not done with these acquisitions at all.

 

[DenchDeckard]

This e-mail is about MS strategy, what does it matter what the other companies were thinking in 2019 about selling themselves? Are we desperate to just throw shit in the discussion to confuse the topic?

It is even worse for this e-mail to be from 2019 than if it had been sent yesterday. That is the entire point. What twisted logic makes people think otherwise?
This makes it even more fun considering the articles about Spencer convincing Nadella to go all in gaming years before, opening the check book, and getting the board to approve like more than $70 Billion in publishers purchases while at the same time trying to keep a straight face saying that it would not remove games from their competitors and it was a pro consumer pro competition move .

“You see, your honour, the defendant did not send death threats after the victim was stabbed, but weeks before… I rest my case… case dismissed right? Right?” —> your point .


No, MS waited for the right opportunity and showered then with cash. MS is not kidnapping people or forcing them to sell under duress, again you know this is not the topic so muddying the waters with this (when you DO know better) is just odd to say the least.



This e-mail is new evidence and CMA already passed judgement. There was plausible deniability which fanboys rode on, but this if admitted could and should be used. CMA already remarked how MS mislead regulators with their intentions on Zenimax / Bethesda.
Some regulators still believed the BS (I say bullshit because even the most ardent Xbox fan knows in their heart that MS could definitely withhold more and more of Activision - Blizzard catalogue from PS if it helps cement GamePass and their own platform and it hurts the chances of Sony to stay competitive on their merits, it is part of the acquisition costs like it was for Zenimax - Bethesda).

Ad hominem attacks about where this evidence is coming from is again more like trying to muddy the waters than adding useful data to the discussion.

This coming out at all is news, this being dated to 2019 and MS trying to remove it from the record shows an agreed and premeditated strategy.

It looks like we have no context of what is actually written just what the "gamers" lawyers have written....

Boom.meme

People acting like this isn't how businesses talk about the competition.

I'm not defending or shilling for MS I'm just saying it's obvious there's a lot of people who haven't ever been in a strategic meeting room or seen emails after rhe fact.

To think these businesses talk like this to reporters, you can only imagine what's being said internally.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Company X wants Company Z gone from market so they would dominate...

...more news at 11am

I'm sure Sony would be sad if Microsoft was gone from console business. For sure.

Oh we are downplaying it then?

At least we are aligned that Microsoft wants PlayStation to be gone from the console market so they alone can dominate. And that's a monopoly in making, right? So you're also against this acquisition then?

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

I'm not defending or shilling for MS

Fucking LOL.

 

[Setsuna Mudou]

It looks like we have no context of what is actually written just what the "gamers" lawyers have written....




Boom.meme

People acting like this isn't how businesses talk about the competition.

I'm not defending or shilling for MS I'm just saying it's obvious there's a lot of people who haven't ever been in a strategic meeting room or seen emails after rhe fact.

To think these businesses talk like this to reporters, you can only imagine what's being said internally.

 

[Godot25]

Exactly. People who are arguing "but it's 2019" are clearly in the defense mode, trying to protect the underdog $2 trillion corporation.

Here is how the timeline looks:

• Microsoft starts buying independent studios and making their third-party multiplatform games exclusive in 2018.
• In 2019, they already had a strategy in place to eliminate Playstation by drying up their games.
• In 2020, they closed Zenimax acquisition, the negotiations for which must have started a long time ago. For reference, Sony/Bungie negotiations ran for 20 months before they publicly announced the acquisition. 20 months for Zenimax would put the timeline to, guess what ... January 2019
• In 2022, MS announced the ABK acquisition and also announced that they are not done with these acquisitions at all.

If you are arguing about intent to "beat the competition" than...duh? It's same play that Sony is making against Microsoft but on smaller scale. You think exclusive content like KOTOR Remake, Street Fighter V, Rise of the Ronin, Deathloop, GhostWire and attempts at making Starfield exclusive are not designed to deprive Xbox from content to drive them out of the market? Boy, I have some news for you. Sony fought against cross-play primarily because they wanted to keep their position as a "top dog" on console market.

There is no denying that Zenimax purchase was to jumpstart first-party content and to create desirable ecosystem for a players. Nothing wrong with that.

But trying to tied this to ABK purchase is sheer lunacy and desperation attempt (like whole "Gamers" lawsuit). You know that Microsoft saying "We want to drive PlayStation out of market" and to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation because it makes business sense are not mutually exclusive, right? You also know that Microsoft could have pull Minecraft from PlayStation Store the moment they acquired Mojang and they did not do that, right? Because it did not made any business sense. Not to mention that nobody in 2019 even had an idea that ABK would go up for sale and only harassment lawsuits and all ABK problems dropped share price so much, that ABK leadership started negotiating. I'm sure you are familiar about when conversation about merger started. (Hint: It wasn't in 2019. And it wasn't even in 2020)

And the funniest shit is that there is almost 0% probability that FTC/CMA did not have access to this communication. And fact that they did not brought it up once kinda shows that this is literally "nothingburger." But you know what people say...about catching a straws.

 

[Varteras]

Source? That's a huge assumption on your part, unless you were a part of those meetings.

IIRC, Zenimax was having discussions for sale back in 2018. Microsoft was involved then. They finally made the decision to sell to MS in 2020, with the deal being finalized a year later. So, Microsoft's desire to push Sony out of the industry completely was, supposedly, clearly worded in an e-mail between the head of Xbox Game Studios and Microsoft's CFO. Right at a time when Microsoft was already in talks with many companies for acquisition. Which accelerated to ridiculous proportions in just a few years. To the point where the entire industry is looking at each other like a Mexican stand-off.

It looks like we have no context of what is actually written just what the "gamers" lawyers have written....




Boom.meme

People acting like this isn't how businesses talk about the competition.

I'm not defending or shilling for MS I'm just saying it's obvious there's a lot of people who haven't ever been in a strategic meeting room or seen emails after rhe fact.

It doesn't change the fact that two executives straight up said their intent is to eliminate Sony, and then engaged in two high profile acquisitions not long after. While trying to convince regulators there is no ill intent. The e-mail would make it clear they're lying. That their intention is absolutely to reduce competition by essentially owning the industry through acquisitions. Regulators clearly have a desire to prevent companies from doing that. Because that is not a consumer choice that created the situation. It was having their options completely removed by force. Especially, done so by a company with a history of monopolistic behavior.

 

[mansoor1980]

soon.........................

 

[Godot25]

Oh we are downplaying it then?

At least we are aligned that Microsoft wants PlayStation to be gone from the console market so they alone can dominate. And that's a monopoly in making, right? So you're also against this acquisition then?

Lol. Is it my problem that Sony can't afford Zenimax and ABK? Nope. Do I believe that Microsoft don't want to drive Sony out of the market and vice versa? Of course. It's business for god sake. Not charity. Do I think that Microsoft would make COD exclusive? Nope, because it does not make any economic sense. Same as Minecraft. Do I think that Sony would be fine even if they will end up without COD? Of course they will.

Why do you think Sony moneyhatted third-party games left and right last decade. Yes. It was to deprive Xbox from content and drive them out of the market. If they could afford big publisher, they would absolutely buy one. But sorry. Mergers are not about "we can't afford it so our competitors can't buy anyone too."

Big shock. I know.

 

[Helghan]

was a

Oh we are downplaying it then?

At least we are aligned that Microsoft wants PlayStation to be gone from the console market so they alone can dominate. And that's a monopoly in making, right? So you're also against this acquisition then?

Lol, they all do it. You literally have people from Sony saying they did the same to Microsoft... Welcome to the real world kiddo, where companies want to thrive

 

[Panajev2001a]

Mmmh… a.) not the case anymore and b.) $

It looks like we have no context of what is actually written just what the "gamers" lawyers have written....




Boom.meme

People acting like this isn't how businesses talk about the competition.

I'm not defending or shilling for MS I'm just saying it's obvious there's a lot of people who haven't ever been in a strategic meeting room or seen emails after rhe fact.

To think these businesses talk like this to reporters, you can only imagine what's being said internally.

Admirable attempt at muddying the waters and deflection here. Let’s talk next time Sony buys one of the biggest multiplatform publishers misleading regulators, makes their historically multiplatform content and new IP’s exclusive, and tries to buy another one of the biggest multiplatform publishers from a vantage point where they are 30x larger / richer than the competitor they are trying to content starve. You can also call in Psygnosys as your smoking gun I guess hehe .

Now back on the point. This connects to the strategy they started executing with Zenimax/Bethesda: “no, no, let me rephrase that… this Only proves the defendant had motive, means, and had already killed someone else in the past few years…nothing else… you must acquit”. This is still the point you and others are dancing around or with the SonyToo(TM) bits away from.

 

[midnightAI]

If you are arguing about intent to "beat the competition" than...duh? It's same play that Sony is making against Microsoft but on smaller scale. You think exclusive content like KOTOR Remake, Street Fighter V, Rise of the Ronin, Deathloop, GhostWire and attempts at making Starfield exclusive are not designed to deprive Xbox from content to drive them out of the market? Boy, I have some news for you. Sony fought against cross-play primarily because they wanted to keep their position as a "top dog" on console market.

There is no denying that Zenimax purchase was to jumpstart first-party content and to create desirable ecosystem for a players. Nothing wrong with that.

But trying to tied this to ABK purchase is sheer lunacy and desperation attempt (like whole "Gamers" lawsuit). You know that Microsoft saying "We want to drive PlayStation out of market" and to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation because it makes business sense are not mutually exclusive, right? You also know that Microsoft could have pull Minecraft from PlayStation Store the moment they acquired Mojang and they did not do that, right? Because it did not made any business sense. Not to mention that nobody in 2019 even had an idea that ABK would go up for sale and only harassment lawsuits and all ABK problems dropped share price so much, that ABK leadership started negotiating. I'm sure you are familiar about when conversation about merger started. (Hint: It wasn't in 2019. And it wasn't even in 2020)

And the funniest shit is that there is almost 0% probability that FTC/CMA did not have access to this communication. And fact that they did not brought it up once kinda shows that this is literally "nothingburger." But you know what people say...about catching a straws.

It isn't about beating the competition though, the accusation here is about destroying the competition.

Think of it this way, MacDonalds and KFC have deals on all the time to try and outdo each other. They'll make deals with external companies, they'll undercut pricing etc. Etc.
But do you think MacDonalds would be allowed to purchase all the chicken farms so that KFC can no longer serve chicken?
(It's probably not the best analogy but you get my point)

(You did teach me something though... Catching at straws is valid, I always knew it as clutching at straws or grasping at straws)

 

[Panajev2001a]

Lol. Is it my problem that Sony can't afford Zenimax and ABK? Nope. Do I believe that Microsoft don't want to drive Sony out of the market and vice versa? Of course. It's business for god sake. Not charity.

Good, we should have regulators that ensure these kind of deals are blocked if they ultimately disrupt the market in anti competitive ways. Thanks for arguing against the deal I guess .

Do I think that Microsoft would make COD exclusive? Nope, because it does not make any economic sense.

It does, their strategy is different than when they bought Minecraft and you can bet that in the medium to the long term the money they lose in those sales is just part of the first phase of enshittification / factored in acquisition costs (but we can disagree with our copies of Starfield PS5 right ?).

Enshittification: https://pluralistic.net/2023/01/21/potemkin-ai/

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

was a

Lol, they all do it. You literally have people from Sony saying they did the same to Microsoft... Welcome to the real world kiddo, where companies want to thrive

Yes.

They all do it.

No-one here is defending Sony.

Absolutely no-one here is trying to cast Sony as a corporate white-knight here to save gamers from the evils of monopolies.

They all try to do it, which is why laws exist to prevent it.

How it is possible to look at this situation and say to yourself "everyone tries to do it, so I hope MS gets away with it and fucks up my hobby" is, again, beyond me.

And yes, the exact same thing applies to Sony. Fuck 'em. Fuck their fucking rootkits. I haven't forgotten. But that's not the issue right now.

 

[Godot25]

It isn't about beating the competition though, the accusation here is about destroying the competition.

Think of it this way, MacDonalds and KFC have deals on all the time to try and outdo each other. They'll make deals with external companies, they'll undercut pricing etc. Etc.
But do you think MacDonalds would be allowed to purchase all the chicken farms so that KFC can no longer serve chicken?
(It's probably not the best analogy but you get my point)

(You did teach me something though... Catching at straws is valid, I always knew it as clutching at straws or grasping at straws)

Every company would be in happiest place if their competition was gone. Including Microsoft and Sony and even Nintendo. So....?

Problem with your McDonalds vs. KFC argument is that Microsoft is not buying whole chicken market. They are buying company that is 4% of chicken market. And not to mention, they are ready to sign legally binding contract to provide those "chickens" to competition for same price for at least 10 years. And KFC can still access huge portion of chicken farms and even sing an exclusive contract with them so they can access chicken.

And I think we can all agree that if Microsoft will get ABK through they are done with buying big publishers because they would not be allowed to have another one because they would be at the top of game industry in terms of revenue.

"Catching a straw" is my bad. I was using my native language and trying to translate it into English.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Lol. Is it my problem that Sony can't afford Zenimax and ABK? Nope. Do I believe that Microsoft don't want to drive Sony out of the market and vice versa? Of course. It's business for god sake. Not charity. Do I think that Microsoft would make COD exclusive? Nope, because it does not make any economic sense. Same as Minecraft. Do I think that Sony would be fine even if they will end up without COD? Of course they will.

Why do you think Sony moneyhatted third-party games left and right last decade. Yes. It was to deprive Xbox from content and drive them out of the market. If they could afford big publisher, they would absolutely buy one. But sorry. Mergers are not about "we can't afford it so our competitors can't buy anyone too."

Big shock. I know.

That's not the question I asked though.

Can you please answer the following so I know what your stance is on this before responding further?

Company X wants Company Z gone from market so they would dominate...

...more news at 11am

I'm sure Sony would be sad if Microsoft was gone from console business. For sure.

At least we are aligned that Microsoft wants PlayStation to be gone from the console market so they alone can dominate. And that's a monopoly in making, right? So you're also against this acquisition then?

 

[ulantan]

Every company would be in happiest place if their competition was gone. Including Microsoft and Sony and even Nintendo. So....?

Problem with your McDonalds vs. KFC argument is that Microsoft is not buying whole chicken market. They are buying company that is 4% of chicken market. And not to mention, they are ready to sign legally binding contract to provide those "chickens" to competition for same price for at least 10 years. And KFC can still access huge portion of chicken farms and even sing an exclusive contract with them so they can access chicken.

And I think we can all agree that if Microsoft will get ABK through they are done with buying big publishers because they would not be allowed to have another one because they would be at the top of game industry in terms of revenue.

"Catching a straw" is my bad. I was using my native language and trying to translate it into English.

Why wouldn't Microsoft be allowed to buy any more publishers ABK is the biggest one?

 

[mansoor1980]

 

[Stafford]

There's a difference between trying to stay atop the competition and using dirty tactics to eliminate them.

At the end of the day they all use dirty tactics. Or did we forget about Sony arranging game pass blocking deals with pubs? And depending on if we call it dirty, these countless of timed exclusives. Making a franchise that isn't their own such as FF one, for example.

It's all business in the end.

 

[Gudji]

Emperor Jimbo, adorned in his traditional samurai armor, stood at the center of the grand hall in his magnificent palace. His loyal samurais, the most skilled warriors in the realm, gathered around him, their faces filled with anticipation and determination. They had received a grave message that Microsoft, a powerful rival empire, planned to annihilate the beloved PlayStation, a symbol of gaming excellence.

As the samurais stood in silent reverence, Emperor Jimbo addressed them with a voice that resonated with authority and resolve. "My honorable warriors, the winds of war blow upon us. The time has come for us to rise and defend what we hold dear—the legacy of PlayStation. Microsoft's ambitions threaten to cast a shadow over the realm of gaming, but we shall not yield. Together, we will protect the honor of our gaming empire."

The samurais, their spirits ignited by their emperor's words, raised their swords and shouted in unison, "For PlayStation!"

Emperor Jimbo nodded, acknowledging their unwavering loyalty. "We shall plan our strategy to counter the impending threat," he declared. "But first, let us remember our roots and honor the spirit of our ancestors."

The grand hall was transformed into a gallery of memories, showcasing the rich history of PlayStation. Portraits of legendary heroes adorned the walls, while ancient artifacts, consoles, and controllers were displayed on pedestals. The samurais marveled at the artifacts, reliving moments of triumph and exhilaration.

As night fell, Emperor Jimbo led his samurais to a tranquil garden illuminated by paper lanterns. They sat beneath the cherry blossom trees, the soft petals dancing in the breeze. The atmosphere was serene, yet tinged with anticipation.

Emperor Jimbo spoke with wisdom and determination. "My loyal samurais, we must forge alliances to strengthen our cause. Let us call upon the kingdoms of Nintendo and CMA, for together we possess the power to repel this encroaching darkness."

A messenger stepped forward, bearing scrolls of invitation addressed to the leaders of Nintendo and CMA. The samurais eagerly awaited their arrival, ready to discuss a united front against Microsoft's plans.

Days turned into nights as Emperor Jimbo and his samurais deliberated, forming a strategy to confront the impending threat. They studied maps, analyzed the enemy's tactics, and trained rigorously, their bodies and minds sharpened for the battles to come.

The fateful day arrived when the leaders of Nintendo and CMA, accompanied by their own loyal warriors, journeyed to Emperor Jimbo's palace. As they met in the grand hall, the atmosphere crackled with the electricity of unity and shared purpose.

Emperor Jimbo stood before his esteemed guests, his voice filled with conviction. "Today, we unite as warriors of gaming, bound by a common cause. Together, we shall unleash the full force of our gaming legacies upon our adversaries."

With heads held high, the leaders and their samurais pledged their allegiance to Emperor Jimbo and PlayStation. They exchanged knowledge, shared battle plans, and harnessed the collective strength of their respective empires.

In the ensuing days, the samurais trained tirelessly, their skills honed to perfection. They harnessed the power of collaboration, blending the distinct strengths of each gaming empire into a formidable force. Embracing their heritage and the spirit of their ancestors, they prepared to face the imminent clash.

When the armies of Microsoft descended upon the realm, they were met with a resolute resistance. The samurais, united under Emperor Jimbo's command, fought with unwavering determination. Their swords clashed, their controllers maneuvered with precision, and their battle cries echoed through the land.

Emperor Jimbo led from the front lines, his sword gleaming in the sunlight as he struck down opponents with calculated fury. The combined forces of PlayStation, Nintendo, and CMA proved to be an unstoppable alliance, pushing back Microsoft's onslaught and defending the realm of gaming.

In the end, victory belonged to the united empires of PlayStation, Nintendo, and CMA. The forces of Microsoft, overwhelmed by the sheer strength and resilience of their adversaries, retreated, their plans of annihilation foiled.

Emperor Jimbo, his samurais, and the leaders of Nintendo and CMA stood triumphant, their spirits lifted by their indomitable will and the power of unity. They knew that the spirit of gaming, the bonds forged in battle, and their unwavering dedication to their legacies would forever safeguard the realm they held dear.

Thus, Emperor Jimbo and his loyal samurais, having defended the honor of PlayStation, etched their names in the annals of gaming history, their reunion a testament to the unbreakable bonds forged in the fires of war.

 

[mansoor1980]

Emperor Jimbo, adorned in his traditional samurai armor, stood at the center of the grand hall in his magnificent palace. His loyal samurais, the most skilled warriors in the realm, gathered around him, their faces filled with anticipation and determination. They had received a grave message that Microsoft, a powerful rival empire, planned to annihilate the beloved PlayStation, a symbol of gaming excellence.

As the samurais stood in silent reverence, Emperor Jimbo addressed them with a voice that resonated with authority and resolve. "My honorable warriors, the winds of war blow upon us. The time has come for us to rise and defend what we hold dear—the legacy of PlayStation. Microsoft's ambitions threaten to cast a shadow over the realm of gaming, but we shall not yield. Together, we will protect the honor of our gaming empire."

The samurais, their spirits ignited by their emperor's words, raised their swords and shouted in unison, "For PlayStation!"

Emperor Jimbo nodded, acknowledging their unwavering loyalty. "We shall plan our strategy to counter the impending threat," he declared. "But first, let us remember our roots and honor the spirit of our ancestors."

The grand hall was transformed into a gallery of memories, showcasing the rich history of PlayStation. Portraits of legendary heroes adorned the walls, while ancient artifacts, consoles, and controllers were displayed on pedestals. The samurais marveled at the artifacts, reliving moments of triumph and exhilaration.

As night fell, Emperor Jimbo led his samurais to a tranquil garden illuminated by paper lanterns. They sat beneath the cherry blossom trees, the soft petals dancing in the breeze. The atmosphere was serene, yet tinged with anticipation.

Emperor Jimbo spoke with wisdom and determination. "My loyal samurais, we must forge alliances to strengthen our cause. Let us call upon the kingdoms of Nintendo and CMA, for together we possess the power to repel this encroaching darkness."

A messenger stepped forward, bearing scrolls of invitation addressed to the leaders of Nintendo and CMA. The samurais eagerly awaited their arrival, ready to discuss a united front against Microsoft's plans.

Days turned into nights as Emperor Jimbo and his samurais deliberated, forming a strategy to confront the impending threat. They studied maps, analyzed the enemy's tactics, and trained rigorously, their bodies and minds sharpened for the battles to come.

The fateful day arrived when the leaders of CMA and FTC, accompanied by their own loyal warriors, journeyed to Emperor Jimbo's palace. As they met in the grand hall, the atmosphere crackled with the electricity of unity and shared purpose.

Emperor Jimbo stood before his esteemed guests, his voice filled with conviction. "Today, we unite as warriors of gaming, bound by a common cause. Together, we shall unleash the full force of our gaming legacies upon our adversaries."

With heads held high, the leaders and their samurais pledged their allegiance to Emperor Jimbo and PlayStation. They exchanged knowledge, shared battle plans, and harnessed the collective strength of their respective empires.

In the ensuing days, the samurais trained tirelessly, their skills honed to perfection. They harnessed the power of collaboration, blending the distinct strengths of each gaming empire into a formidable force. Embracing their heritage and the spirit of their ancestors, they prepared to face the imminent clash.

When the armies of Microsoft descended upon the realm, they were met with a resolute resistance. The samurais, united under Emperor Jimbo's command, fought with unwavering determination. Their swords clashed, their controllers maneuvered with precision, and their battle cries echoed through the land.

Emperor Jimbo led from the front lines, his sword gleaming in the sunlight as he struck down opponents with calculated fury. The combined forces of PlayStation, Nintendo, and CMA proved to be an unstoppable alliance, pushing back Microsoft's onslaught and defending the realm of gaming.

In the end, victory belonged to the united empires of PlayStation, Nintendo, and CMA. The forces of Microsoft, overwhelmed by the sheer strength and resilience of their adversaries, retreated, their plans of annihilation foiled.

Emperor Jimbo, his samurais, and the leaders of Nintendo and CMA stood triumphant, their spirits lifted by their indomitable will and the power of unity. They knew that the spirit of gaming, the bonds forged in battle, and their unwavering dedication to their legacies would forever safeguard the realm they held dear.

Thus, Emperor Jimbo and his loyal samurais, having defended the honor of PlayStation, etched their names in the annals of gaming history, their reunion a testament to the unbreakable bonds forged in the fires of war.

need edited pics to go with your post

 

[Varteras]

So we've gone from "Microsoft isn't as bad as you think", "Microsoft just wants to compete", "Microsoft has changed"... to... "of course Microsoft is as bad as you thought", "of course Microsoft wants a monopoly", "of course Microsoft is the same they've always been".

 

[Godot25]

Why wouldn't Microsoft be allowed to buy any more publishers ABK is the biggest one?

Because one of the argument Microsoft used heavily during merger process was fact that they are only third/fourth company in terms of revenue and even if they completed ABK purchase, they would still be behind Sony. That argument would be kinda invalid in the future.

Not to mention that only huge publishers on the market after ABK are EA and Take-Two. And you can imagine how much crying from regulators would there be because of GTA and FIFA.

 

[fallingdove]

a rough TL;DR

- Totilo releases an article with redacted info claimed by lawyer in 'gamers lawsuit' about a supposed email from Matt Booty about taking Sony/PlayStation out of business, claiming it's their line of communication for the activision acquisition. All of this is redacted so we don't know the exact wording, context or nature of this communication.
- Internet runs wild with it, numerous websites run articles, twitter sphere blows up
- An hour or so later, an MS rep clarifies the date of the email to Totilo, that it was originally an email from 2019, years before any talks about Activision's
- Totilo retracts original tweets and apologizes for the wording he used which made it sound like this was related to the on-going Activision acquisition. Some websites start removing articles, tweeters start deleting their videos


And now we're on page 10.

Right… That’s what happened.

More like:

- Lawsuit highlights an email from Xbox executive Matt Booty describing Microsoft’s intent to eliminate competition
- Microsoft tries to control the narrative by pushing the journalist to clarify that the email was from 2019
- Moronic Xbox fanboys try to de-couple the email from ongoing publisher acquisitions stating that the ABK deal had absolutely nothing to do with these comments and the ABK deal was really just 80 billion dollars that Microsoft decided to spend on a whim…

And now we are on page 10

 

[FunkMiller]

Would be hilarious if Booty is responsible for the final nail in this deal’s coffin.

 

[ulantan]

Because one of the argument Microsoft used heavily during merger process was fact that they are only third/fourth company in terms of revenue and even if they completed ABK purchase, they would still be behind Sony. That argument would be kinda invalid in the future.

Not to mention that only huge publishers on the market after ABK are EA and Take-Two. And you can imagine how much crying from regulators would there be because of GTA and FIFA.

They could claim they are behind Tencent too and buy Ubisoft or EA. And they could argue they still aren't close and those are significantly smaller purchases.

 

[mansoor1980]

when evil approaches.................................

against all odds , an unlikely hero must step up........................

 

[SJRB]

Emperor Jimbo, adorned in his traditional samurai armor, stood at the center of the grand hall in his magnificent palace. His loyal samurais, the most skilled warriors in the realm, gathered around him, their faces filled with anticipation and determination. They had received a grave message that Microsoft, a powerful rival empire, planned to annihilate the beloved PlayStation, a symbol of gaming excellence.

As the samurais stood in silent reverence, Emperor Jimbo addressed them with a voice that resonated with authority and resolve. "My honorable warriors, the winds of war blow upon us. The time has come for us to rise and defend what we hold dear—the legacy of PlayStation. Microsoft's ambitions threaten to cast a shadow over the realm of gaming, but we shall not yield. Together, we will protect the honor of our gaming empire."

The samurais, their spirits ignited by their emperor's words, raised their swords and shouted in unison, "For PlayStation!"

Emperor Jimbo nodded, acknowledging their unwavering loyalty. "We shall plan our strategy to counter the impending threat," he declared. "But first, let us remember our roots and honor the spirit of our ancestors."

The grand hall was transformed into a gallery of memories, showcasing the rich history of PlayStation. Portraits of legendary heroes adorned the walls, while ancient artifacts, consoles, and controllers were displayed on pedestals. The samurais marveled at the artifacts, reliving moments of triumph and exhilaration.

As night fell, Emperor Jimbo led his samurais to a tranquil garden illuminated by paper lanterns. They sat beneath the cherry blossom trees, the soft petals dancing in the breeze. The atmosphere was serene, yet tinged with anticipation.

Emperor Jimbo spoke with wisdom and determination. "My loyal samurais, we must forge alliances to strengthen our cause. Let us call upon the kingdoms of Nintendo and CMA, for together we possess the power to repel this encroaching darkness."

A messenger stepped forward, bearing scrolls of invitation addressed to the leaders of Nintendo and CMA. The samurais eagerly awaited their arrival, ready to discuss a united front against Microsoft's plans.

Days turned into nights as Emperor Jimbo and his samurais deliberated, forming a strategy to confront the impending threat. They studied maps, analyzed the enemy's tactics, and trained rigorously, their bodies and minds sharpened for the battles to come.

The fateful day arrived when the leaders of Nintendo and CMA, accompanied by their own loyal warriors, journeyed to Emperor Jimbo's palace. As they met in the grand hall, the atmosphere crackled with the electricity of unity and shared purpose.

Emperor Jimbo stood before his esteemed guests, his voice filled with conviction. "Today, we unite as warriors of gaming, bound by a common cause. Together, we shall unleash the full force of our gaming legacies upon our adversaries."

With heads held high, the leaders and their samurais pledged their allegiance to Emperor Jimbo and PlayStation. They exchanged knowledge, shared battle plans, and harnessed the collective strength of their respective empires.

In the ensuing days, the samurais trained tirelessly, their skills honed to perfection. They harnessed the power of collaboration, blending the distinct strengths of each gaming empire into a formidable force. Embracing their heritage and the spirit of their ancestors, they prepared to face the imminent clash.

When the armies of Microsoft descended upon the realm, they were met with a resolute resistance. The samurais, united under Emperor Jimbo's command, fought with unwavering determination. Their swords clashed, their controllers maneuvered with precision, and their battle cries echoed through the land.

Emperor Jimbo led from the front lines, his sword gleaming in the sunlight as he struck down opponents with calculated fury. The combined forces of PlayStation, Nintendo, and CMA proved to be an unstoppable alliance, pushing back Microsoft's onslaught and defending the realm of gaming.

In the end, victory belonged to the united empires of PlayStation, Nintendo, and CMA. The forces of Microsoft, overwhelmed by the sheer strength and resilience of their adversaries, retreated, their plans of annihilation foiled.

Emperor Jimbo, his samurais, and the leaders of Nintendo and CMA stood triumphant, their spirits lifted by their indomitable will and the power of unity. They knew that the spirit of gaming, the bonds forged in battle, and their unwavering dedication to their legacies would forever safeguard the realm they held dear.

Thus, Emperor Jimbo and his loyal samurais, having defended the honor of PlayStation, etched their names in the annals of gaming history, their reunion a testament to the unbreakable bonds forged in the fires of war.

Time well spent.

 

[Corndog]

Yeah

Just a fun, meaningless name, "operation kill..." or "embrace, extend, extinguish."

Nothing to it. No need to take it literally.

It's not like they have repeatedly done, or tried to do exactly that multiple time over the years, ever since their very formation, starting with OS/2, moving through Word Perfect (Word), Lotus Notes (Excel), Java (.NET, aspx), Flash (Silverlight), most infamously and successfully Netscape (Internet Explorer), even fucking email protocols (MAPI).

And an email detailing how this strategy could apply to the gaming sector couldn't possibly have anything to do with the implementation of the "extend" part of this strategy with their acquisition of Zenimax/Bethesda and then attempt at acquiring Activision, combined with a loss-leading subscription gaming service that aims to deny platform holders like Apple and Sony their 30% cut.

Oh no.

This is just some meaningless boardroom talk. Don't take it so seriously, guys.

Jesus Christ, you fucking shills must own MS shares. I honestly cannot fathom anyone genuinely being this clueless.

You sure are a pleasant fellow.

 

[Godot25]

That's not the question I asked though.

Can you please answer the following so I know what your stance is on this before responding further?

No. I'm not against acquisition. I never was. I wouldn't be against Sony buying Take-Two or EA or Square or Capcom. It's business. If they can afford it and they would not create monopoly (which Microsoft's purchase of ABK would not), then it is okay. Capitalism baby. Big companies eats smaller companies and experienced people are using money from those mergers to create new companies. But I understand people that think differently in this matter.

Sorry, but if regulators needs almost non-existing market (cloud gaming) as a reason to block this merger, then it should probably go through.

Even CMA who are giddy to get this deal block dropped console SLC. EU basically said that even if Sony lost COD they would be okay. China cleared merger without issue. And FTC is trying to block because "big tech bad" and their arguments are so bad that they even contradicts themselves (they are using Brown Shoe Co. v. United States argument which literally opposite what they are trying to argue) I think that that should tell you all.

 

[fallingdove]

It looks like we have no context of what is actually written just what the "gamers" lawyers have written....




Boom.meme

People acting like this isn't how businesses talk about the competition.

I'm not defending or shilling for MS I'm just saying it's obvious there's a lot of people who haven't ever been in a strategic meeting room or seen emails after rhe fact.

To think these businesses talk like this to reporters, you can only imagine what's being said internally.

You are totally shilling. You are the same type of person that drinks it up every time Xbox talks about peace, love, harmony and 10 year deals.

So which is it? Is Xbox out to reduce platform choice with these massive acquisitions or are they looking to extend their loving arms to every gamer regardless of where they prefer to play? Cause anyone that doesn’t worship at the feet of green can see, clear as day, what Xbox has been selling.

This shift to, ‘well that’s just business’ goes to show how intellectually dishonest arguments have been from the beginning.

 

[suspicious mind]

Big fat nothingburger that got the fanboys all excited for nothing. Blame the pony media. No context no literal quotè. Nothing.
Sony has made similar statements in the past and has been trying to kill xbox for a long time now with their 3rd party deals. Look at how they were trying to get timed exclusivity for every zenimax game too.
From what i read this email has already been dismissed by the same judge in that retarded gamers lawsuit so yeh...

 

[Panajev2001a]

No. I'm not against acquisition. I never was. I wouldn't be against Sony buying Take-Two or EA or Square or Capcom. It's business. If they can afford it and they would not create monopoly (which Microsoft's purchase of ABK would not), then it is okay. Capitalism baby. Big companies eats smaller companies and experienced people are using money from those mergers to create new companies.

Sorry, but if regulators needs almost non-existing market (cloud gaming) as a reason to block this merger, then it should probably go through.

Even CMA who are giddy to get this deal block dropped console SLC. EU basically said that even if Sony lost COD they would be okay. China cleared merger without issue. I think that that should tell you all.

The regulator picked only one of the reasons, they should have challenged MS on the console market as well based on the precedent MS established with Zenimax / Bethesda. MS is capable and perfectly willing to take the financial hit which progressively withdrawing new Activision - Blizzard content / IP’s from PlayStation would cause. It is just part of the actual cost to acquire them. MS knows it and you know it too.

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

You sure are a pleasant fellow.

Oh I'm sorry, did I respond to biased, partisan drivel with logical arguments based on an informed understanding of the issue at hand again?

Hope that doesn't hurt your feelings too much.

 

[DenchDeckard]

You are totally shilling. You are the same type of person that drinks it up every time Xbox talks about peace, love, harmony and 10 year deals.

So which is it? Is Xbox out to reduce platform choice with these massive acquisitions or are they looking to extend their loving arms to every gamer regardless of where they prefer to play? Cause anyone that doesn’t worship at the feet of green can see, clear as day, what Xbox has been selling.

This shift to, ‘well that’s just business’ goes to show how intellectually dishonest arguments have been from the beginning.

Xbox are out to make money, they are a business. They obviously want to take down Sony....Just like Sony want to take down MS.

The only difference is the reality of how it looks right now. Xbox brings their games out on console and PC day one and that's what they are doing.

I couldn't give one flying punanni if these deal went through, but Im not going to read some comment from a "gamers" law suit and take that as gospel with no context over all the other regularity bodies that havent made one comment on this so called bombshell!

 

[The Fuzz damn you!]

Im not going to read some comment from a "gamers" law suit and take that as gospel with no context over all the other regularity bodies that havent made one comment on this so called bombshell!

...yet you will accept Microsoft's response to it as gospel, defend their predatory language as meaningless, and dismiss any possibility of harmful consequences of their actions.

So, yeah, you're a shill.

 

[DenchDeckard]

...yet you will accept Microsoft's response to it as gospel, defend their predatory language as meaningless, and dismiss any possibility of harmful consequences of their actions.

So, yeah, you're a shill.

What are you talking about, I am not defending shit. Ive literally said I bet the exec did say it. I wouldnt be surprised in the slightest if an exec said they want to kill the competition, literally like how SOny talks about microsoft as shown above.

Can you not accept that or something?

 

[Slicker than your average]

Xbox are out to make money, they are a business. They obviously want to take down Sony....Just like Sony want to take down MS.

The only difference is the reality of how it looks right now. Xbox brings their games out on console and PC day one and that's what they are doing.

I couldn't give one flying punanni if these deal went through, but Im not going to read some comment from a "gamers" law suit and take that as gospel with no context over all the other regularity bodies that havent made one comment on this so called bombshell!

You're on Riky level of ignoring everything and playing up Xbox positives.

Never go full Riky

 

[DenchDeckard]

Everyone wanna ignore this? which was literally said to the press!?

Can you imagine what the emails and discussions are like internally at Sony?

Can anyone share what Booty actually said?

 

[PropellerEar]

Everyone wanna ignore this?

Pretty much, come back when you can link it to $80B worth of acquisitions.

 

[Whitecrow]

Everyone wanna ignore this? which was literally said to the press!?

Can you imagine what the emails and discussions are like internally at Sony?

Can anyone share what Booty actually said?

Honestly, as bad as it sounds, it didnt translate to Sony making any dick move to anyone.
They minded their own business and succeeded, fortunately.

The same cannot be said about the purchase of Activision.

 

[TLZ]

At the end of the day they all use dirty tactics. Or did we forget about Sony arranging game pass blocking deals with pubs? And depending on if we call it dirty, these countless of timed exclusives. Making a franchise that isn't their own such as FF one, for example.

It's all business in the end.

That is not the same as making it your sole mission to completely eliminate the existence of your competition, whoever it is.

Nintendo did that dirty business in the 80s/90s.

 

[Heisenberg007]

The shills who are tasked to defend Microsoft:

 

[GHG]

Tbh, I definitely expect some people in businesses to have this mentality. Matt Booty must just be that guy. I have them in my business. They even come up with "fun" names to express their business plan such as "operation kill...said competitor"

Who is it you "work" for again?