Support NeoGAF

[bentanchorbolt]

With the FTC involved, this sounds like a massive waste of tax-payer's money. It's fucking video games, who gives a shit.
Let Sony die if it cannot survive without Call of Duty. I won't shed a tear over this absolute nonsense.

I mean, its kind of their job to make a stink about deals this size.

 

[GHG]

This is literal arguing in bad faith.

Heh, Microsoft have been doing exactly that with the regulators thus far. So father like son I guess.

 

[DJ12]

What do you think MS is coming to the table with? Tons of Sony dirt is going to be unearthed.

Unluckily for you fanboy drivel written by 12 year olds wont be included

It mentions Starfield and Redfall.

Did MS back out or not?

They made it clear there is no incentive for them to make games exclusive as they would lose money. Its pretty clear in the summary document that this was the argument. All ms's responses are in 'form co' which seems to be confidential.

 

[HTK]

Nobody is stopping Microsoft from getting exclusive rights to a Call of Duty Beta or some other dumb content like PlayStation is currently doing. Hell, it was Microsoft that started that shit with getting the Map Pack DLC a whole month before PlayStation, I thanked them for beta testing but that was way more offensive to the PlayStation userbase than PlayStation getting one extra weekend of Call of Duty Beta and few content pieces here and there.

Plus these are short term agreements that expire and they get their shot at negotiation or buying those exclusives....

 

[Dick Jones]

Call of Duty blocked from Game Pass due to Sony deal

Crazy, isn’t it?

If only there was a COD deal between Activision and Sony ending in 2023 that could be bid on by MS for the same rights and Gamepass Day 1. If only that's how negotiations work, if only.

 

[digoutyoursoul]

People like this shouldn’t have access to the internet, If this came out of 10 year olds mouth I could understand, but cmon…. Really?

“Journalist”

 

[Mibu no ookami]

I said before, "in my opinion". That article is very polite towards Sony, doesn't even mention the attrition between Psygnosis and Sony or that they tried to sell them.

I guess having issues with a studio, trying to sell them and being forced to keep them because nobody offered as much as they wanted, then closing down 2 of their locations, changing the studio name and forcing them to make the IPs Sony wants doesn't keep devs motivated to do their best work.

Where did you see that they were FORCED to make the IPs Sony wanted them to make?

The reality is they were never all that good and quickly fell behind. You can look at their games on metacritic for historic aggregate scores. Sony probably wanted to sell them (though not sure that is confirmed beyond rumor) because they were an expensive underperforming group, which is ultimately why they closed down some of the studios.

None of that suggests mismanagement.

 

[Rusty Shackelford]

If they want CoD that badly, just hire all the key devs from the three CoD studios and since they already own id Tech, which the games are made upon, they can make their own modern war shooter. Nothing in the way of them doing that.

 

[zomboden]

What’s stopping Microsoft from buying Call of Duty exclusivity from Activision for spite?

 

[bitbydeath]

With the FTC involved, this sounds like a massive waste of tax-payer's money. It's fucking video games, who gives a shit.
Let Sony die if it cannot survive without Call of Duty. I won't shed a tear over this absolute nonsense.

Gaming isn’t a niche thing anymore.

The Gaming Industry Is Now Bigger Than Movies And Music.. Combined

Gaming Industry Dominates as the Highest-Grossing Entertainment Industry

www.thc-pod.com

 

[Swift_Star]

What do you think MS is coming to the table with? Tons of Sony dirt is going to be unearthed.

Why would any Sony dirt be unearthed? It’s not Sony who is suing. It’s not Sony vs MS, it’s the FTC vs MS.
If MS keeps pointing fingers instead of making a good case, it’ll look really bad for them.

 

[j0hnnix]

 

[GHG]

What’s stopping Microsoft from buying Call of Duty exclusivity from Activision for spite?

Absolutely nothing. They are free to try if they wish.

 

[MisterXDTV]

I mean, its kind of their job to make a stink about deals this size.

Exactly, if they let a deal of this magnitude pass like it's nothing, then why should any Antitrust authority exist at all?

Just let everyone buy whatever they want...

The richer wins it all...

 

[bentanchorbolt]

Exactly, if they let a deal of this magnitude pass like it's nothing then why any Antitrust deal should exist?

Just let everyone buy whatever they want...

The richer wins it all...

For what its worth, which isn't much, I fully expect the deal to go through but I don't want to live in a world where the FTC and other committees and regulatory bodies let things like this go unchecked. If MS wants this deal to go through they are going to play ball, at this point its a negotiation, one that ensures MS doesn't walk away with the ability to target other platforms in a negative way.

 

[Hendrick's]

Why would any Sony dirt be unearthed? It’s not Sony who is suing. It’s not Sony vs MS, it’s the FTC vs MS.
If MS keeps pointing fingers instead of making a good case, it’ll look really bad for them.

The fact all these organizations are parroting Sony lies makes it evident that MS will use examples of Sony tactics to fight this being that they are the market leader.

 

[Swift_Star]

With the FTC involved, this sounds like a massive waste of tax-payer's money. It's fucking video games, who gives a shit.
Let Sony die if it cannot survive without Call of Duty. I won't shed a tear over this absolute nonsense.

Lots of people gives a shit. Games move the economy and thousands of jobs are involved. If your think this is irrelevant, you need to educate yourself a little.

 

[thebigmanjosh]

Sony has created and dictated the direction of the industry so long that their way of doing business is now being accepted as the only way to do it and being regulated that way. We all know that Microsost is at a huge disadvantage in this situation due to consoles in the market.

That is wild when you think about it but I'm sure most people won't think beyond "haha Sony wins" or "haha Xbox wins."

I am very curious to see what happens with Activision if this deal is blocked. They wanted to be sold but I'm not sure how that happens if this deal falls through.

Let’s not rewrite history. Microsoft benefited from exclusivity deals until they dropped the ball with XB1 and lost market share. The majority of games that don’t make it to XB hardware now are from Japan, where MS has struggled to find any footing in 20 years.

They’ve failed at building studios/IP internally and can’t buy exclusives with low install base, so they are now leveraging cash to buy the top publishers in gaming and build their own ecosystem through acquisition. The only disadvantage was Don Mattrick and whatever marketing lead thought it was a great idea to make a media box and not a games console.

This FTC news was expected, and their track record on merger lawsuits is mixed. It will come down the judge and how they interpret the law vs. the merits of the case. If it doesn’t go through, AB will get picked up by a company like Amazon or have new majority investors within a year taking the reigns.

 

[Swift_Star]

The fact all these organizations are parroting Sony lies makes it evident that MS will use examples of Sony tactics to fight this being that they are the market leader.

Here’s the thing: Sony isn’t lying. It’s time for you to come with terms that MS is what people say they are. Wake up.
And again, this is not on Sony, is on MS for making the wrong choices. Their problem.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

So far what has been exposed is Microsoft trying to fool regulators over the Bethesda acquisition:

So what MS did with the Bethesda deal is what's causing all this? Interesting.

 

[Ronin_7]

Phase is expected because this deal is $68b.

Most shit going to phase 2 ends up dying on the beach. CMA ain't joking around.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

If it doesn’t go through, AB will get picked up by a company like Amazon or have new majority investors within a year taking the reigns.

CoD becomes exclusive to Luna, everyone gets irate and wishes the deal with MS had gone through.

 

[Dolomite]

It literally says MS assured them Starfield would appear on rival consoles. You're telling me that's a lie?

I'm only quoting what it says and you're sitting here ignoring the report.

"Agency notes that Microsoft decided to make several of Bethesda's titles including Starfield and Redfall Microsoft exclusives despite assurances it had given to European antitrust authorities that it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles "

Games my guy. Not "the games" not "these titles". The two unreleased games listed in the sentence are arbitrary games mentioned in a blanket statement.

 

[SLB1904]

Lots of people gives a shit. Games move the economy and thousands of jobs are involved. If your think this is irrelevant, you need to educate yourself a little.

The problem I noticed with gamers. Nowadays we discuss billions like uts nothing lol

Now we talking about games selling over 20mil copies and if somehow you don't manage that is some kinda of failure. While in other industries more budget involved don't see that kinda of return

 

[Dolomite]

Microsoft assured the EU that they have no incentives to make Zenimax games exclusive, and 5 months later announced exclusives.

No amount of flip-flopping can take away that L

And Phil was real upfront with the "Case by Case" wording

 

[ZehDon]

So, you agree you have nothing. Good.

The irony in this post is dense enough to fold space time.

 

[Swift_Star]

The irony in this post is dense enough to fold space time.

It has been since you made a blank statement without any proof to it. Next time don’t acuse other of something you have only pure conjecture to back your point up.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

And Phil was real upfront with the "Case by Case" wording

After all this time why are you guys still arguing about this shit? It's very clear at this point which users are worth engaging with. Spoiler alert: hes not one of the objective ones.

 

[Crayon]

You know a guy told me once that time exclusive dlc was the same thing.

 

[DForce]

"Agency notes that Microsoft decided to make several of Bethesda's titles including Starfield and Redfall Microsoft exclusives despite assurances it had given to European antitrust authorities that it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles "

Games my guy. Not "the games" not "these titles". The two unreleased games listed in the sentence are arbitrary games mentioned in a blanket statement.

No, they were planned to be released on PlayStation. Sony even tried to get an exclusive deal.

I don't know why you guys play dumb when it's right there for everyone to see.

 

[Banjo64]

Now the shower begins

FWIW the FTC loss in court against 3 different mergers last September (2022) alone

When did the xboi’s get so bad at meme-ing? Weak.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

The FTC’s job isn’t to protect Activision Shareholders so they can get a guaranteed golden parachute while the rest of the tech market has crashed 50% this year

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

And Phil was real upfront with the "Case by Case" wording

Lol no. They had to expand on the "case by case" wording, and the result was that they have no incentives to make Zenimax games exclusive and that the conditions to do so were “improbable”

 

[SLB1904]

And Phil was real upfront with the "Case by Case" wording

Phil has being dodgy as hell.
In every interview he doesn't give straight answers. The only time he flat out came out and say something concrete was about cod. And even that its only cod. Everyone is so focused on cod that forget about the other Activision games

 

[Swift_Star]

The FTC’s job isn’t to protect Activision Shareholders so they can get a guaranteed golden parachute while the rest of the tech market has crashed 50% this year

She’s so entitled it’s annoying.

 

[gothmog]

The fact all these organizations are parroting Sony lies makes it evident that MS will use examples of Sony tactics to fight this being that they are the market leader.

 

[GHG]

She’s so entitled it’s annoying.

She's probably already bought some house she can't afford or something. Her tweets over the last few weeks have come across as seriously desperate and wont be doing them any favours.

 

[3liteDragon]

Well, looks like we know the outcome for this deal.

Microsoft-Activision merger: ‘I think this deal closes,’ analyst says

Wedbush Securities Analyst Michael Pachter joins Yahoo Finance Live to discuss Activision Blizzard earnings, the Microsoft-Activision merger, slowing game engagement, and the outlook for the gaming industry.

finance.yahoo.com

 

[GhostOfTsu]

You know a guy told me once that time exclusive dlc was the same thing.

 

[DeepEnigma]

The Country Music Awards?

 

[MisterXDTV]

Well, looks like we know the outcome for this deal.

http://[URL]https://finance.yahoo.com/video/microsoft-activision-merger-think-deal-191911381.html

[/URL]

The kiss of death

 

[Dirk Benedict]

Except Microsoft will be $3 billion poorer. Not sure I'd call that a win. Will AB and MS be closer? Eh....hard to say. I can see AB stockholder being pissed that MS didn't deliver on the deal. Kotick is toast no matter what though.

3 billion poorer? Sure. But, I'm thinking long term, and 3 billion doesn't mean much in the long term for a company like Microsoft. It's a lot of money to lose. However, if Microsoft is good at anything else, besides software(lol) then it would be generating money.

 

[Ronin_7]

The fact all these organizations are parroting Sony lies makes it evident that MS will use examples of Sony tactics to fight this being that they are the market leader.

What tactics? The same tactics Microsoft also uses?

Scorn
Medium
Stalker
???

Didn't Microsoft paid these time exclusives too? How is this different from SONY paying for Final Fantasy?

Stop living In Dreamland.

 

[GHG]

The kiss of death

Lina Khan today:

 

[DeepEnigma]

No, they were planned to be released on PlayStation. Sony even tried to get an exclusive deal.

I don't know why you guys play dumb when it's right there for everyone to see.

That’s the funny part. You have two very conflicting reasons why it’s not releasing for PlayStation from the same camp.

> third party publisher who has been publishing all their games the last 3 gens on almost every platform, especially where they sold the most on recently, was never going to publish this on PlayStation.

> Sony tried getting exclusive rights, wether outright or timed, that’s why MS was forced to buy them.

Honk honk.

 

[OmegaSupreme]

I said IP. Spider-Man comes to mind.

One of the finest self own statements ever. Congratulations.

 

[Hendrick's]

What tactics? The same tactics Microsoft also uses?

Scorn
Medium
Stalker
???

Didn't Microsoft paid these time exclusives too? How is this different from SONY paying for Final Fantasy?

Stop living In Dreamland.

You guys are the delusional ones. Plenty of evidence Sony is both anti-competitive and anti-consumer. Stay tuned. As Brad Smith said, MS is going to war.

 

[Banjo64]

The fact all these organizations are parroting Sony lies makes it evident that MS will use examples of Sony tactics to fight this being that they are the market leader.

MS has literally lied to regulators to ensure the Zenimax deal passed. If you can’t see that then you are brainwashed.

 

[FUBARx89]

If only there was a COD deal between Activision and Sony ending in 2023 that could be bid on by MS for the same rights and Gamepass Day 1. If only that's how negotiations work, if only.

The same rights they had in the 360 days? Of timed exclusives dlc (30 days), marketing rights etc.

Wonder why MS let it lapse for Sony to pick up the deal.

Anyway, be intresting to see if any proof comes out that MS lied to the EU regs.

 

[Hendrick's]

MS has literally lied to regulators to ensure the Zenimax deal passed. If you can’t see that then you are brainwashed.

Proof?