Support NeoGAF

[Darsxx82]

Idas fron ERA:

The witnesses to be called on June 23, 2023:

- Phil Spencer (MS)
- Jamie Lawver (MS)
- Dov Zimring (Google)
- Jim Ryan (Sony)

The FTC exhibit list for today. Some higlights:

- Microsoft's approach following acquisitions since 2018 (Feb 2022)
- Thoughts on Google Stadia Announcement (March 2019)
- Bethesda titles on Geforce Now (March 2021)
- PC Gaming streaming roadmap (July 2020)
- xCloud solution only (April 2022)
- Starfield as an Xbox exclusive (June 2021)
- Sony's Game Pass (March 2022)
- Project Denali comms and press release; it was the ABK acquisition (January 2022)
- Project Zipline - Zynga strategy approval; from the CMA final report we know that MS tried to acquire a mobile publisher, I guess that it was Zynga (August 2021)
- Microsoft's commitment to ABK games on Playstation post merger; includes a "Sony letter agreement.PDF" (January and August 2022)
- Project Phoenix - "Request for Strategy Approval - Square Enix v7" - Phoenix Support materials"; a special agreement/potential acquisition of Square Enix? (January 2020)
- Fallout 76 on PS Now (September 2021)
- Ori and the Blind Forest coming to Switch (August 2019)
- Project Relic announce date; the Indiana Jones game (January 2021)
- Project Singularity Steering Committee (June 2022)
- Presentation on Project Neutrino (April 2021)

And lots of redacted bits!

Should make for an interesting day too.

Emails from 2019 will be displayed and are related to Square. (Project Phoenix). I wonder what interest the FTC may have in using those emails. MS attempt to acquire Square in 2019-2020? Can it refer to the western part that Square eventually sold to Embrace Group? The simple agreement with Square (anunnced in XO19) by which the many Square games would come to Gamepass (phoenix support materials?

Presumably, all these questions about possible other acquisitions or acquisition projects will be directed to P. Spencer.

 

[DJ12]

This woman just can't keep her mouth shut, can she?

It's quite silly, if/when this deal fails their relationship with Sony is going to be in the toilet thanks to her comments.

I can see Sony telling them all special deals are off and if they don't like it, tough shit.

 

[Banjo64]

It's quite silly, if/when this deal fails their relationship with Sony is going to be in the toilet thanks to her comments.

I can see Sony telling them all special deals are off and if they don't like it, tough shit.

She's just a silly idiot. Sony and ABK will ignore her if this deal fails and will act in a way that seeks profitability. If this deal fails I can guarantee you that Kotcik will be straight on the phone to Jim Ryan to smooth things over.

 

[Thirty7ven]

Sony’s success is certainly not on trial.

But Sony being presented as being as successful as possible is key to undermining the FTC’s claim.

You’re absolutely right. And maybe they are doing well there, I can’t tell.

 

[Ronin_7]

Phil Spencer probably don't sleep today

 

[GHG]

Satya after yesterday

If he has any sense he will clean house after this is all over, regardless of the outcome.

 

[Ar¢tos]

She's just a silly idiot. Sony and ABK will ignore her if this deal fails and will act in a way that seeks profitability. If this deal fails I can guarantee you that Kotcik will be straight on the phone to Jim Ryan to smooth things over.

"Spencer didn't mean anything to me! We didn't even kiss, it was just a quickie in a bathroom stall!
You are the one I really love Jim!"

 

[PaNaMa]

Tom Warren posted a quote from Jim Ryan yesterday about the MS aquisition: "it is not an exclusivity play at all. They’re thinking bigger than that."
Of course the article does not at all delve into what the quote is referring to. What is the "thinking bigger" part in reference to? If it not about exclusivity - which all parties now admit - What *is* it about? What is everyone *not* saying.

 

[Heisenberg007]

It's quite silly, if/when this deal fails their relationship with Sony is going to be in the toilet thanks to her comments.

I can see Sony telling them all special deals are off and if they don't like it, tough shit.

I think owning Destiny (and now Marathon) and producing some of their own live-service shooter games are also going to playing a huge part in this equation.

At the moment, both Xbox and PlayStation are relying on Call of Duty. However, PS is actively trying to minimize that dependency. If they become somewhat successful in doing that, ABK will easily be brought down a notch or two. No more special 80/20 deals for them on PlayStation anymore.

 

[Foilz]

Can today's hearing stream be pinned to the op or something so we can find it?

 

[Ogbert]

You’re absolutely right. And maybe they are doing well there, I can’t tell.

I worry that people sometimes think I’m pro the acquisition, when I’m anything but. On strict competition principles however, I’m not expecting a great deal from the FTC.

I want MS put in their place when it comes to the CMA, especially if they try and close the deal in advance, but having had to deal with these revolting companies for the past 20 years or so, they tend to get their way (with a few exceptions).

 

[Foilz]

It's quite silly, if/when this deal fails their relationship with Sony is going to be in the toilet thanks to her comments.

I can see Sony telling them all special deals are off and if they don't like it, tough shit.

You don't see Activision doing the same ? Sony is the one trying to stop their deal

 

[Foilz]

I worry that people sometimes think I’m pro the acquisition, when I’m anything but. On strict competition principles however, I’m not expecting a great deal from the FTC.

I want MS put in their place when it comes to the CMA, especially if they try and close the deal in advance, but having had to deal with these revolting companies for the past 20 years or so, they tend to get their way (with a few exceptions).

Put in their place how? The CMA blocked the deal solely on bs reasoning.if anything the CMA should be the ones put in their place.

 

[Topher]

Put in their place how? The CMA blocked the deal solely on bs reasoning.if anything the CMA should be the ones put in their place.

There is a 400+ page document detailing how the CMA came to their reasoning. Did you read it?

 

[Foilz]

Tom Warren posted a quote from Jim Ryan yesterday about the MS aquisition: "it is not an exclusivity play at all. They’re thinking bigger than that."
Of course the article does not at all delve into what the quote is referring to. What is the "thinking bigger" part in reference to? If it not about exclusivity - which all parties now admit - What *is* it about? What is everyone *not* saying.

I thought it was obvious what he was referring to is mobile/cloud gaming in the future which is why they want the content acti has.

 

[Foilz]

There is a 400+ page document detailing how the CMA came to their reasoning. Did you read it?

400+ on cloud gaming which is complete nonsense. Cod and the console portion played no part in blocking the deal. They believe the issue is cloud gaming .it's BS

 

[Topher]

400+ on cloud gaming which is complete nonsense. Cod and the console portion played no part in blocking the deal. They believe the issue is cloud gaming .it's BS

And yet you just said....

I thought it was obvious what he was referring to is mobile/cloud gaming in the future which is why they want the content acti has.

 

[NickFire]

This thread deserves a live tag when the hearing resumes.

 

[DJ12]

I think owning Destiny (and now Marathon) and producing some of their own live-service shooter games are also going to playing a huge part in this equation.

At the moment, both Xbox and PlayStation are relying on Call of Duty. However, PS is actively trying to minimize that dependency. If they become somewhat successful in doing that, ABK will easily be brought down a notch or two. No more special 80/20 deals for them on PlayStation anymore.

Totally agree

You don't see Activision doing the same ? Sony is the one trying to stop their deal

What can they do? Stop selling their games on the defacto market leader?

May as well just wind up proceedings if they are that stupid.

Even Microsoft claim they cannot afford to make Activision exclusive

 

[Astray]

She's just a silly idiot. Sony and ABK will ignore her if this deal fails and will act in a way that seeks profitability. If this deal fails I can guarantee you that Kotcik will be straight on the phone to Jim Ryan to smooth things over.

Kotick was literally squeezing MS a few months before he agreed to sell to them, the man doesn't care he's just after $$$.

Whatever happens here, Sony or Microsoft or whoever will get over it and try to make business.

 

[PaNaMa]

I thought it was obvious what he was referring to is mobile/cloud gaming in the future which is why they want the content acti has.

See, I would think A has nothing to do with B there. Cloud services are everywhere. Hell I was streaming Destiny 1 to my Sony Xperia phone long before XCloud was a thing. Whether or not, or how much, Sony decided to go down the cloud streaming road after that is beside the whole point here. If Sony wants to do more with cloud streaming, there's nothing stopping them. Microsoft doesn't get mobile or cloud rights to all Sony's in house stuff... again I don't see it.

Like is Sony's entire beef that Microsoft has an xbox app that lets people stream games to their phone? It's can't boil down to that. There has to be something bigger here that no one is saying

 

[Ogbert]

Tom Warren posted a quote from Jim Ryan yesterday about the MS aquisition: "it is not an exclusivity play at all. They’re thinking bigger than that."
Of course the article does not at all delve into what the quote is referring to. What is the "thinking bigger" part in reference to? If it not about exclusivity - which all parties now admit - What *is* it about? What is everyone *not* saying.

I’m not sure the context of the quote, and when Ryan said it, but it might simply be MS’ attempt to turn Gamepass into the single most cost effective method of accessing essentially all content.

MS are betting on the fact that at a certain tipping point (in 5,10,15 years), Gamepass will become essential.

They’re losing money whilst it has 25 million or so subscribers, but are building a model where they hope to have *everyone* subscribed.

I mean, consider Nintendo. They have quietly gone about winning everything by building their own market, the Switch. So you own a PS and a Switch. A PC and a switch.

Gamepass is MS’ attempt to produce their own uniquely compelling service. At the moment it’s shit. At some point, it might become quite good.

 

[NickFire]

Whatever happens here, Sony or Microsoft or whoever will get over it and try to make business.

Whoever looks like the winner after FTC case should get to trade Activision one of their PR people for Lulu. Shes got good energy and the Diablo joke post was promising for future non-console war console war posts from corporate figureheads.

 

[splattered]

All this time the real villain was Activision... And now that they've been exposed both Microsoft and Sony are going to refuse to work with them any longer. Now Activision is going to have to put out their own console to get people to keep playing COD. Please welcome the "Actiswitchboxstation" !!! Bless you

 

[Ogbert]

Put in their place how? The CMA blocked the deal solely on bs reasoning.if anything the CMA should be the ones put in their place.

Broadly speaking, if they close the deal without CMA approval, I’d like them to be put in their place with fines.

I’m also not entirely convinced by the CMA reasoning and I think their definition of the market will come under scrutiny.

But as a basic point of principle, I intensely dislike American companies telling our courts how they can and cannot behave.

 

[Topher]

All this time the real villain was Activision... And now that they've been exposed both Microsoft and Sony are going to refuse to work with them any longer. Now Activision is going to have to put out their own console to get people to keep playing COD. Please welcome the "Actiswitchboxstation" !!! Bless you

 

[Three]

- Microsoft's commitment to ABK games on Playstation post merger; includes a "Sony letter agreement.PDF" (January and August 2022)

January: , acquisition announced, Jim email
August: "sony letter agreement. pdf"
September: Phil: at least for several more years
September: Jim: this is inadequate

 

[NickFire]

But as a basic point of principle, I intensely dislike American companies telling our courts how they can and cannot behave.

They’re gonna close the deal from a yacht off the coast at night, while shooting off fireworks from the bow and dropping tea off the stern, and releasing a flock of eagles to soar to the beats of Born in the USA.

 

[Ogbert]

They’re gonna close the deal from a yacht off the coast at night, while shooting off fireworks from the bow and dropping tea off the stern, and releasing a flock of eagles to soar to the beats of Born in the USA.

To be fair, if they do that, I’ll reconsider my position.

I’ve always been a sucker for panache.

 

[splattered]

They’re gonna close the deal from a yacht off the coast at night, while shooting off fireworks from the bow and dropping tea off the stern, and releasing a flock of eagles to soar to the beats of Born in the USA.

One of the best posts in a long time lmao

 

[Ar¢tos]

To be fair, if they do that, I’ll reconsider my position.

I’ve always been a sucker for panache.

 

[PaNaMa]

I’m not sure the context of the quote, and when Ryan said it, but it might simply be MS’ attempt to turn Gamepass into the single most cost effective method of accessing essentially all content.

MS are betting on the fact that at a certain tipping point (in 5,10,15 years), Gamepass will become essential.

They’re losing money whilst it has 25 million or so subscribers, but are building a model where they hope to have *everyone* subscribed.

I mean, consider Nintendo. They have quietly gone about winning everything by building their own market, the Switch. So you own a PS and a Switch. A PC and a switch.

Gamepass is MS’ attempt to produce their own uniquely compelling service. At the moment it’s shit. At some point, it might become quite good.

So Sony wants to block Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard cause it thinks... that it makes Gamepass a better option than it already is? Because it thinks Gamepass is a good value, and it thinks its MS wants to make it a better value? Like these are not grounds to invalidate the deal in my non lawyer opinion. You are saying this is more about Sony wanting to stop Gamepass than anything else? There's no way a court could strike down a deal because of that. There's nothing stopping Sony or Nintendo from putting out their own version of Gamepass. And Gamepass's existence has proven to make no difference in the console wars where MS is dead last. None of t his adds up to me. I feel like Jim Ryan's quote referring to something "bigger" is definitely not game pass related. It can't be.

 

[Ogbert]

So Sony wants to block Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard cause it thinks... that it makes Gamepass a better option than it already is? Because it thinks Gamepass is a good value, and it thinks its MS wants to make it a better value? Like these are not grounds to invalidate the deal in my non lawyer opinion. You are saying this is more about Sony wanting to stop Gamepass than anything else? There's no way a court could strike down a deal because of that. There's nothing stopping Sony or Nintendo from putting out their own version of Gamepass. And Gamepass's existence has proven to make no difference in the console wars where MS is dead last. None of t his adds up to me. I feel like Jim Ryan's quote referring to something "bigger" is definitely not game pass related. It can't be.

I wasn’t thinking in terms of this case and the merits of the deal, simply what Ryan might be speculating about.

I mean, the only other thing is the cloud.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Have all the usual MS supporters been purged from the thread? Where are they?

I would like to hear some of their new takes on this considering most of the narratives have been debunked now.

They're here. They are just making well thought out responses and not the retard twitter like driveby's. Both sides seemed to get purged for lazy console war bait, I noticed.

Just like the email thread, some seem to jump ship when they see the narratives taking on water.

She's just a silly idiot. Sony and ABK will ignore her if this deal fails and will act in a way that seeks profitability. If this deal fails I can guarantee you that Kotcik will be straight on the phone to Jim Ryan to smooth things over.

She's gone either way. Most definitely gone if the deal falls through. I can see MS keeping her however, she's rather useful for said useful idiots.

There is a 400+ page document detailing how the CMA came to their reasoning. Did you read it?

Why read when one can get their emotionally manipulated talking points from Twitter.

How about that EC report?

 

[PharaoTutAnchAmun]

Phil Spencer probably don't sleep today

He will be in his bed cant sleep and is thinking how he will twist all the lies he sayd for years now...watch his sleepy face tomorrow....

 

[RedC]

Tom Warren posted a quote from Jim Ryan yesterday about the MS aquisition: "it is not an exclusivity play at all. They’re thinking bigger than that."
Of course the article does not at all delve into what the quote is referring to. What is the "thinking bigger" part in reference to? If it not about exclusivity - which all parties now admit - What *is* it about? What is everyone *not* saying.

I believe it's about Xbox conceding they will likely never "win" the console war no matter what they do, but Phil getting Microsoft to recognize the continued growth of the overall gaming market and all of its sectors and expanding into most if not all of them and "winning" by generating the most net profit in gaming than it's competitors.

 

[graywolf323]

Phil Spencer probably don't sleep today

he’s either going to put on the best performance of his life or the FTC is going to skewer him like they have with everyone else

 

[MMaRsu]

he’s either going to put on the best performance of his life or the FTC is going to skewer him like they have with everyone else

FTC arent skewering anyone...

 

[Kenysu]

What time is the court hearing today?

 

[graywolf323]

FTC arent skewering anyone...

did you hear the same deposition of Matt Booty as the rest of us?

 

[Dr_Ifto]

What time is the court hearing today?

Probably normal business hours in California

 

[DeepEnigma]

FTC arent skewering anyone...

They don't have to. They are preparing case law evidence and the airing of dirty laundry showing that "good guy" MS PR is fake as fuck (only a clown buys into any company PR at face value) is icing on the cake.

 

[Elios83]

Phil Spencer probably don't sleep today

The guy is so used to PR interviews where he either tells lies or the things that his fans want to hear, that having lawyers trying to demolish whatever he says will be a sight to behold.

 

[Deanington]

I worry that people sometimes think I’m pro the acquisition, when I’m anything but. On strict competition principles however, I’m not expecting a great deal from the FTC.

I want MS put in their place when it comes to the CMA, especially if they try and close the deal in advance, but having had to deal with these revolting companies for the past 20 years or so, they tend to get their way (with a few exceptions).

EDIT: Nevermind, it was a stupid question and its early for me right now.

 

[Heisenberg007]

The guy is so used to PR interviews where he either tells lies or the things that his fans want to hear, that having lawyers trying to demolish whatever he says will be a sight to behold.

Starts the deposition with, "Your honor, we have never been this excited for the future of Xbox. And this E3, we will have the best lineup of games we've ever ..."

 

[Dick Jones]

Phil Spencer probably don't sleep today

He'll do fine. We all saw his great prep work for the Kinda Funny interview.

 

[FUBARx89]

Starts the deposition with, "Your honor, we have never been this excited for the future of Xbox. And this E3, we will have the best lineup of games we've ever ..."

That would be amazing. I hope the "when we play together we all win" slogan comes up

 

[DeepEnigma]

The guy is so used to PR interviews where he either tells lies or the things that his fans want to hear, that having lawyers trying to demolish whatever he says will be a sight to behold.

You are still going to get PR Spencer. Bet. The dude has been groomed for decades in that regards.

More so than the other execs. He got his cracks out the past couple of weeks, probably hit up the public speaking coaches again, a little Zen and yoga, right back at it.

 

[Heisenberg007]

He'll do fine. We all saw his great prep work for the Kinda Funny interview.

FTC Lawyer: "So, Mr. Spencer, how would you say the Xbox division is doing right now?"

Mr. Spencer:

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

at least is informative