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[X-Wing]

These guys are mad cause they wanted microsoft to close over the CMA, or the CMA to accept microsofts demand of approving on the basis of those trashy cloud deals and sony signing a contract.

This divestiture for them is MS bending the knee a bit.

Nope, they are mad because they wanted Microsoft to lock those games away from PlayStation players

 

[DeepEnigma]

Nope, they are mad because they wanted Microsoft to lock those games away from PlayStation players

 

[onnextflix5]

So they are selling cloud rights to Ubisoft, which in turn can sell it to anyone including Microsoft, so what happens if Ubisoft no longer wants to be in cloud business or close down or be sold to Sony etc.

 

[mansoor1980]

isnt this like the 3rd email ?

 

[DeepEnigma]

So they are selling cloud rights to Ubisoft, which in turn can sell it to anyone including Microsoft, so what happens if Ubisoft no longer wants to be in cloud business or close down or be sold to Sony etc.

That's the caveat in all of this.

 

[Pelta88]

What are you talking about?

Playstation will have "Ubisoft Gamepass/cloud service" not Microsoft's

They won't even have to make a deal with Microsoft to make all ABK games available via streaming

 

[mayham2199]

What are you talking about?

Playstation will have "Ubisoft Gamepass/cloud service" not Microsoft's

They won't even have to make a deal with Microsoft to make all ABK games available via streaming

If I'm understanding this deal correctly Ubisoft doesn't have to make a deal with anyone correct? They could simply take COD cloud and make it Ubisoft+ only.

 

[Aguero9320]

What are you talking about?

Playstation will have "Ubisoft Gamepass/cloud service" not Microsoft's

They won't even have to make a deal with Microsoft to make all ABK games available via streaming

Yeah, that's what a middle man is. Ubisoft selling Microsoft's product on PlayStation. And streaming only.

I stand by my original opinion. I really don't give a shit personally if Sony makes a bad deal, but if I was advising them I'd say beware of Greeks bearing gifts

 

[MisterXDTV]

If I'm understanding this deal correctly Ubisoft doesn't have to make a deal with anyone correct? They could simply take COD cloud and make it Ubisoft+ only.

Of course, it's their rights, they do what they want with them

 

[Bridges]

My other point still stands, what happens with an exclusive ABK game that only has a windows/directx version ever made and sony/amazon/netflix/meta or whoever else want to license it to stream on their service?

This is gonna be an absolute shitshow down the track, do the cma/eu fine ubisoft for not being able to provide a license to stream something because a compatible version of the game/software/program for rivals cloud infrastructure doesn't exist, or is it fine to say they should just put some windows vm's online? Is the solution that microsoft can't stream these titles on xcloud so then they are not exclusive to xcloud and ubisoft can't license them? Can microsoft transition all logins to microsoft accounts so no matter where you play from your going to have to login to an xbox account instead of a blizzard/acti one? So many questions that probably wont be answered because the regulators will be asking if sony will get a santa skin in cod.

"Ubisoft will also be able, for a fee, to require Microsoft to adapt Activision’s titles to operating systems other than Windows, such as Linux, if it decides to use or license out the cloud streaming rights to Activision’s titles to a cloud gaming service that runs a non-Windows operating system."

Sounds like they already thought this part through

 

[DeepEnigma]

but if I was advising them I'd say beware of Greeks bearing gifts

 

[MisterXDTV]

Yeah, that's what a middle man is. Ubisoft selling Microsoft's product on PlayStation. And streaming only.

I stand by my original opinion. I really don't give a shit personally if Sony makes a bad deal, but if I was advising them I'd say beware of Greeks bearing gifts

Microsoft gets nothing out of Playstation players streaming through Ubisoft+, that's my point

MS can't lock out ABK games from Playstation anymore with this divesture and Sony will pay Ubisoft, not them...

How exactly is that good news for Microsoft's GamePass?? I don't get it

 

[Gudji]

Have a laugh at this:

I knew there was something wrong with these CMA mofos.

 

[foamdino]

This is actually a very interesting point.

• EC can reject this deal because Ubisoft hasn't promised the same deals (I don't think they have to because CMA's offer only applies to non-EU areas)
• But the CMA can also reject the restructured deal as Ubisoft / Ubisoft+ can become with the ABK games what the CMA feared Xbox/xCloud would become.

This is why I would have thought that there should have been an open bidding process instead of handing Ubi a massive set of IP on a silver platter.

 

[X-Wing]

So they are selling cloud rights to Ubisoft, which in turn can sell it to anyone including Microsoft, so what happens if Ubisoft no longer wants to be in cloud business or close down or be sold to Sony etc.

Ubisoft is will sell licenses.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Have a laugh at this:

Dude is getting obsessively worse. What a bozo.

 

[Kadve]

Thats what I jokingly suggested earlier. It would be quite the strategic play - but I'm assuming in reality it wouldn't be allowed... As Heisenberg007 suggested though. It'd be far more entertaining if Sony bought them.

Guillemot just spent years fighting off one Mega Corp. He is not just going to bow down to another.

 

[Banjo64]

Have a laugh at this:

Global Financial Terrorism hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Single handedly the best line I’ve ever read

 

[X-Wing]

"By my honest assessment"

It's like those people who didn't even finish high school but were suddenly experts in biology during the pandemic.

 

[TheRedRiders]

Have a laugh at this:

Jesus Christ

 

[analog_future]

I just can't believe this shit is still ongoing. It never fucking ends.

 

[Deleted member 848825]

Guillemot just spent years fighting off one Mega Corp. He is not just going to bow down to another.

Today maybe. 15 years is along time though. I remember back in early 2022 he said "As for a potential sale, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot said the company is not looking to sell at the moment and feels confident in its financial position and sees the value of its many franchises. That being said, Guillemot said Ubisoft and its board of directors would entertain an offer to be acquired"

 

[Topher]

Have a laugh at this:

The CMA broke senjutsu.

 

[Negotiator101]

They are definitely buddy-buddy otherwise it doesn't make sense to me why MS would just give them control over ABK even if it is cloud only... this is such an odd type of deal to me.

To get the deal done, anything they have to do they'll do it seems. I think it's a good deal really and should be enough to satisfy the CMA.

 

[Heisenberg007]

This is why I would have thought that there should have been an open bidding process instead of handing Ubi a massive set of IP on a silver platter.

I agree. This seems unfair.

Also, what happens if Ubisoft collapses within 15 years?

 

[Negotiator101]

Global Financial Terrorism hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Single handedly the best line I’ve ever read

I recognise that name was that poster on Gaf? Some people on both sides are really taking this deal to heart

 

[DeepEnigma]

I recognise that name was that poster on Gaf? Some people on both sides are really taking this deal to heart

Did you just "both sides" that tweet? Bruh!

I agree. This seems unfair.

Also, what happens if Ubisoft collapses within 15 years?

It'll be a revolving door back to MS in 5, bet. That is the language the CMA might have issue with.

 

[Nonehxc]

Doesn't this fundamentally changes regulators approval?

 

[MasterCornholio]

Have a laugh at this:

If someone sends a money bomb to my bank account I'm not going to say no.



What I don't understand is why some are freaking out over this. Its not like things are not going their way at this point.

 

[Negotiator101]

Did you just "both sides" that tweet? Bruh!

Just pointing out the facts regarding this deal, people losing their minds.

 

[Aguero9320]

Microsoft gets nothing out of Playstation players streaming through Ubisoft+, that's my point

MS can't lock out ABK games from Playstation anymore with this divesture and Sony will pay Ubisoft, not them...

How exactly is that good good news for Microsoft's GamePass?? I don't get it

You don't think Ubisoft are paying Microsoft for the content?

And you don't think it will use Xbox user accounts?

Microsoft have a long stated goal to get their Gamepass content on as many screens as possible... This is (or at least seems it could be, we need more meat on the bones to be sure) Xbox Gamepass everywhere, at least in streaming terms (and presumably just first party), but managed by Ubisoft. Even more significant is a major strategic alignment between a Microsoft which owns ABK and one of the few remaining large publishers in the market...

 

[DeepEnigma]

Just pointing out the facts regarding this deal, people losing their minds.

IDK, Global Financial Terrorism™ and calling on government intervention of a private regulator takes the cake.

 

[X-Wing]

You don't think Ubisoft are paying Microsoft for the content?

And you don't think it will use Xbox user accounts?

Microsoft have a long stated goal to get their Gamepass content on as many screens as possible... This is (or at least seems it could be, we need more meat on the bones to be sure) Xbox Gamepass everywhere, at least in streaming terms (and presumably just first party), but managed by Ubisoft. Even more significant is a major strategic alignment between a Microsoft which owns ABK and one of the few remaining large publishers in the market...

It's ABK that will sell these rights to Ubisoft before Microsoft acquires ABK.

 

[Aguero9320]

It's ABK that will sell these rights to Ubisoft before Microsoft acquires ABK.

This is crazy talk. It's a business deal. If you think Microsoft are proposing something where they get $0 but have to give away their product to Ubisoft forever I don't even know how to engage.

 

[DeepEnigma]

It's ABK that will sell these rights to Ubisoft before Microsoft acquires ABK.

In which Ubisoft has the right to sell them to anyone, even "back to" MS. Which is the stipulation that may draw scrutiny by regulators.

 

[NickFire]

Nope, they are mad because they wanted Microsoft to lock those games away from PlayStation players

Probably. But also possibly just performance theater. Pretend to act mad so CMA can pretend it didn't bend the knee.

I've got no proof, but I do suspect some of these guys get talking points in the AM like politicians do the day after news breaks.

 

[MisterXDTV]

You don't think Ubisoft are paying Microsoft for the content?

And you don't think it will use Xbox user accounts?

Microsoft have a long stated goal to get their Gamepass content on as many screens as possible... This is (or at least seems it could be, we need more meat on the bones to be sure) Xbox Gamepass everywhere, at least in streaming terms (and presumably just first party), but managed by Ubisoft. Even more significant is a major strategic alignment between a Microsoft which owns ABK and one of the few remaining large publishers in the market...

What?

Ubisoft will buy the streaming rights at a good price as Microsoft is FORCED to sell them by the CMA

Once this happens Microsoft is out of the picture for cloud gaming of ABK titles....

Sony will deal just with Ubisoft

 

[hlm666]

"Ubisoft will also be able, for a fee, to require Microsoft to adapt Activision’s titles to operating systems other than Windows, such as Linux, if it decides to use or license out the cloud streaming rights to Activision’s titles to a cloud gaming service that runs a non-Windows operating system."

Sounds like they already thought this part through

I don't think it's been thought through that much, I've got some questions off the top of my head, but we will never see the contract to know if they are covered/answered.

So can they lock in 1 or 2 years exclusivity while they "adapt" these to other platforms. Is it ok to run these on xcloud while waiting for the adaptations? These versions need to be made the same time as the other versions to be viable for the required outcome, and just exactly how much do they have to pay. Can microsoft charge an exorbitant fee if they want the port quickly making it not viable so the license fee ends up too expensive for the other parties to viably add to a subscription service? Can they push the job off to a low effort studio, then when the adaptation isn't as good as the xcloud version does this break any of the parity clauses? Do these parity clauses still even exist with ubisoft? If ubisoft just straight up uses them to bolster uplay+ and wont license them out how do we know if MS isn't paying them off and just funneling the money through the fee they pay ubisoft for their gamepass uplay deal?

I don't think letting a company microsoft already has gamepass and xcloud agreements with control the streaming rights works out the way the cma wants it to.

 

[adamsapple]

Stonks

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Have a laugh at this:

He's a gem

 

[NickFire]

Will this be the first time the UK accepts behavioral remedies to be enforced by another mega corp?

Or is there a functional difference between behavioral remedies and a 15 year waiting period?

 

[MarkMe2525]

Microsoft gets nothing out of Playstation players streaming through Ubisoft+, that's my point

MS can't lock out ABK games from Playstation anymore with this divesture and Sony will pay Ubisoft, not them...

How exactly is that good news for Microsoft's GamePass?? I don't get it

This is only cloud, MS will still be able to enrich their gamepass catalog for Xbox and PC subscribers. Sony will not be able to natively play any title that isn't ported to PlayStation by MS.

 

[DeepEnigma]

He's a gem

 

[Banjo64]

Stop trying to make Sarah Bond happen Phil, it’s not going to happen.

 

[Iced Arcade]

CMA the saviour of gamers lol. Thankfully gamers now can pay for 2 subscriptions instead of 1. Edit: NM gamepass still gets them via cloud lol

On a corp positive: could save ubi from nose diving, create closer relationship etc

 

[jroc74]

What are you talking about?

Playstation will have "Ubisoft Gamepass/cloud service" not Microsoft's

They won't even have to make a deal with Microsoft to make all ABK games available via streaming

I guess some ppl are trying to understand the concessions MS are willing to offer.

They basically just gave Ubisoft the keys to their streaming kingdom for AB games. With downloads on other platforms TBD.

 

[Topher]

It's ABK that will sell these rights to Ubisoft before Microsoft acquires ABK.

Not sure about the timing. The statement said the deal will be effective "at the closing" of the ABK deal.

"This includes executing an agreement effective at the closing of our merger that transfers the cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft Entertainment SA, a leading global game publisher. "

 

[Pelta88]

This is only cloud, MS will still be able to enrich their gamepass catalog for Xbox and PC subscribers. Sony will not be able to natively play any title that isn't ported to PlayStation by MS.

Reading is fundamental.

Microsoft have offered all of Activision's catalogue, past and present, on cloud for 15 years. The "native" semantics doesn't detract from Microsoft first objective which was to cut off PS from ATVI ip and revenue.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Stop trying to make Sarah Bond happen Phil, it’s not going to happen.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Will this be the first time the UK accepts behavioral remedies to be enforced by another mega corp?

Or is there a functional difference between behavioral remedies and a 15 year waiting period?

These are not behavioral remedies. These are structural remedies where the ABK cloud gaming rights will be divested to Ubisoft.