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[MasterCornholio]

But they literally did

Bungie is not part of Playstation, they are as independent as they can be while still being owned by Sony

They were set up within the structure on the same level as PS Studios and SIE Publishing, rather than under the PS Studios banner like all other first party. They also

They are specifically an independent subsidiary with their own board of directors


https://www.gamesindustry.biz/sony-buying-bungie-for-usd3-6-billion

Will their games run best and have exclusive content for Playstation though? Undoubtedly

Will they be able to publish wherever they choose? Yes they have been set up in a way that allows that

Could Sony close that off and just make all future games exclusive? Unlikely but not impossible and would require buy in from Bungie themselves. The decisions made in regards to COD may force Sony down that path if they need a competitor

Anything live service from Bungie should be on multiple platforms. I'm not sure if Bungie will ever go back to making single player games though.

 

[Yoboman]

When did Microsoft started publishing on Mac?

 

[bentanchorbolt]

Sony can continue to money hat games for PlayStation while allowing Bungie to operate independently and make games for Xbox. Just like Microsoft can continue to make Minecraft games for PlayStation and yet money hat games for Xbox.

Yes, they could do that. But I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Pelta88]

Why are you posting horse shit?

 

[SenjutsuSage]

SenjutsuSage Concessions are a'comin', my friend

Oh, CMA and EC have offered up their decision already? Link me plz. Let's just wait for real updates and final decisions. And remember what we said, having to keep Call of Duty on Playstation isn't a concession.

 

[MasterCornholio]

Yes, they could do that. But I'll believe it when I see it.

Only thing we have at the moment are their public statements. Don't think they can lie about what they said but you should pay attention to what it could mean.

 

[Ronin_7]

Oh, CMA and EC have offered up their decision already? Link me plz. Let's just wait for real updates and final decisions. And remember what we said, having to keep Call of Duty on Playstation isn't a concession.

NYT is reporting that CMA likely opposing & that they don't give a shit about remedies.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/business/dealbook/microsofts-activision-deal.html

The F.T.C. opposed Microsoft's bid to acquire Activision in a lawsuit filed in December. Microsoft's legal team also expects the antitrust authority in Britain to oppose the transaction, while it believes the European Commission is open to potential remedies, according to four people briefed on the matter who were not authorized to speak publicly.

 

[adamsapple]

When did Microsoft started publishing on Mac?

Not a diverse lineup, but they have done a few here and there.

�

Minecraft: Education Edition	Mac OS	November 1, 2016	Mojang
Psychonauts 2	Mac OS	August 25, 2021	Double Fine Productions

Yes, they could do that. But I'll believe it when I see it.

Same, their statement is nebulous enough to allow wiggle room. It'll only be clear when they announce their next-next IP (after the one they're already working with Netease for).

 

[SenjutsuSage]

NYT is reporting that CMA likely opposing & that they don't give a shit about remedies.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/04/business/dealbook/microsofts-activision-deal.html

So no actual word yet from the CMA and European Commission on what they will actually do. So we continue to wait then.

 

[Yoboman]

Not a diverse lineup, but they have done a few here and there.

�

Minecraft: Education Edition	Mac OS	November 1, 2016	Mojang
Psychonauts 2	Mac OS	August 25, 2021	Double Fine Productions

Same, their statement is nebulous enough to allow wiggle room. It'll only be clear when they announce their next-next IP (after the one they're already working with Netease for).

Hardly lines up with that statement

 

[feynoob]

So no actual word yet from the CMA and European Commission on what they will actually do. So we continue to wait then.

EU already gave MS statement of objection.
And that is left is CMA.
We will found out their decision this week.

 

[Topher]

Yes, they could do that. But I'll believe it when I see it.

I agree they could be playing loose with their wording here and have no intention of putting their games on Xbox. Bungie certainly isn't bending over backwards to clarify which systems will be supported going forward.

 

[MasterCornholio]

I agree they could be playing loose with their wording here and have no intention of putting their games on Xbox. Bungie certainly isn't bending over backwards to clarify which systems will be supported going forward.

PC + PS is the minimum that I'm expecting. Time will tell if the games are on other platforms. But they never said that it wouldn't happen so there's still hope.

 

[bentanchorbolt]

I agree they could be playing loose with their wording here and have no intention of putting their games on Xbox. Bungie certainly isn't bending over backwards to clarify which systems will be supported going forward.

I have a feeling we are inching close to a big console war. Industry consolidation is well on its way and exclusive offerings and services are what differentiates platforms. If the deal goes through for MS I doubt they are done buying folks, and Sony will continue strategic investments as always tho maybe quicker since anything left on the table could be up for grabs.

 

[3liteDragon]

R reksveks Is this recent?

 

[PaintTinJr]

Another idiotic post that has been covered pages ago. The pandemic meant almost all tech/online revenues were through the roof, Microsoft included.

In the last 3 years MS hired 75,000 new staff due to Covid expansion, the contraction this year is natural and again what you think is a gotchya moment is total horseshit. The reality is MS are hiring more, keeping more, enabling unions and creating fairer and more diverse workplaces than Sony or Nintendo or Valve etc.

You've missed the context entirely with the angry tone in your post.

Using UK terminology, Ltd companies can afford to worry about their employees lives and PLCs; particularly their CEOs have a legal responsibility to worry about their shareholders. That doesn't mean that because a company makes 10k employees redundant including gaming employees for a recent acquisition that they shouldn't be allowed to offer to buy a company they will ultimately reduce processing redundancy by making employees redundant. They are just doing their job of maximising their opportunities to make money for their shareholders. ...

but that in no way means that government acquisition regulatory bodies have to ignore the risk to employees' lives to okay such acquisitions. Everyone is doing the job they were assigned and when you become as big as Microsoft, destroying 10k peoples' livelihoods is normal part of business for small shareholder benefits - because they aren't a classic company making redundancies just to stay in business, and that's okay - and regulators in an economic downturn (and cost of living crisis) are free to tell Microsoft the outcome will be crappy because they are so big - with past behaviour noted - and are too big to make such an acquisition at this time.

Edit: As for GAF type gamers, places like Resetera balance that out all the same, essentially pro the acquisition.

How is that Hogwarts legacy game trending? Is it tipping Gaf or Reset way?

 

[Cheezewizz]

Then there's everything else that doesn't have a guarantee for the next X amount of years. If the merger happens some franchises will just stop coming to PlayStation and other platforms.

Entitled as Sony is, I can't really blame you for believing that 3rd party games are just guaranteed to be on Playstation. However, as shocking as it might be that's actually not the case. There's absolutely nothing that guarantees the next GTA will be released on Playstation for example.

Perhaps you should chill on definitively stating what franchises will and won't release on platforms until we get more info on the subject.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

PaintTinJr

No anger, just facts. I'm Aussie and we swear like sailors, get fucking used to it.

Economy downturn equates to staff let go. I'll take net positive 65,000 hired over 3 years all day everyday. So would any regulator.

All of MS is approx 220,000 globally, you are arguing about 10,000 lost and 65,000 gained and retained.

Idiocy.

 

[Topher]

Entitled as Sony is, I can't really blame you for believing that 3rd party games are just guaranteed to be on Playstation. However, as shocking as it might be that's actually not the case. There's absolutely nothing that guarantees the next GTA will be released on Playstation for example.

Perhaps you should chill on definitively stating what franchises will and won't release on platforms until we get more info on the subject.

Where did MasterCornholio say anything was "guaranteed" to be on PlayStation. Obviously he is stating his belief that if this deal goes through then some ABK franchises will not be on PlayStation any longer. He is probably right. The only franchise that is on the negotiating table that we have heard about is Call of Duty. Personally, I fully expect other Activision games to be taken off PlayStation as well. That isn't a definitive statement of "what franchises will and won't release on platform", by the way. Neither was MasterCornholio 's.

 

[PaintTinJr]

PaintTinJr

No anger, just facts. I'm Aussie and we swear like sailors, get fucking used to it.

Economy downturn equates to staff let go. I'll take net positive 65,000 hired over 3 years all day everyday. So would any regulator.

All of MS is approx 220,000 globally, you are arguing about 10,000 lost and 65,000 gained and retained.

Idiocy.

The UK and EU don't have to worry about the overall number they employ worldwide, or if like idiots they employed too many people last week, just the impact on the employees this week and the negativity of consolidation that impacts competition in their market, now.

You are measuring them by your own set of rules as a typical or non-typical brash Aussie - I wouldn't know, or care to stereotype your whole nation by your online actions/behaviour - which is totally fine, and regulators have their own criteria for their market/citizens' best interests and that's fine too IMHO.

Anyone thinking Microsoft making 10k employees redundant while claiming to need a $70b acquisition to go through isn't a contradiction is tone deaf to the real world at this moment in time IMO.

 

[Dr. Claus]

Only warriors wouldn't want more games on Game Pass. Dr. Claus would agree.

Not a warrior, nor am I against more games on Game Pass - where did I suggest otherwise?

But please, continue to show your own ass, you clown.

 

[Cheezewizz]

Where did MasterCornholio say anything was "guaranteed" to be on PlayStation. Obviously he is stating his belief that if this deal goes through then some ABK franchises will not be on PlayStation any longer. He is probably right. The only franchise that is on the negotiating table that we have heard about is Call of Duty. Personally, I fully expect other Activision games to be taken off PlayStation as well. That isn't a definitive statement of "what franchises will and won't release on platform", by the way. Neither was MasterCornholio 's.

The part where he said "Then there's everything else that doesn't have a guarantee for the next X amount of years"

A definitive statement is stating what will or won't happen. You saying "I fully expect" excludes yours from being one. Him saying "If the merger happens some franchises will just stop coming to Playstation and other platforms" is a definitive statement.

I fully believe as you do, that MS will likely make some ABK games exclusive if it makes sense to do so. There is a significant difference between "fully believing", "fully expecting", and "likely making" vs "will".

 

[MasterCornholio]

Where did MasterCornholio say anything was "guaranteed" to be on PlayStation. Obviously he is stating his belief that if this deal goes through then some ABK franchises will not be on PlayStation any longer. He is probably right. The only franchise that is on the negotiating table that we have heard about is Call of Duty. Personally, I fully expect other Activision games to be taken off PlayStation as well. That isn't a definitive statement of "what franchises will and won't release on platform", by the way. Neither was MasterCornholio 's.

Only form of a guarantee that I'm seeing is that 10 year deal for COD. Everything else is up to speculation since Microsoft didn't mention the other IPs that Activision has.

Knowing what they did with Bethesda I wouldn't be surprised if many IPs are made exclusive to the Xbox ecosystem. Like games such as Crash or Diablo for example.

 

[reinking]

R reksveks Is this recent?

Can someone explain to me why the court would even allow a company to subpoena items not related to a case, such as employee review data? Is Sony legally obligated to provide that info? Can they redact private information? It just seems like a legal way for corporate espionage at this point but I have no idea of how the courts work in this regard.

 

[Topher]

The part where he said "Then there's everything else that doesn't have a guarantee for the next X amount of years"

A definitive statement is stating what will or won't happen. You saying "I fully expect" excludes yours from being one. Him saying "If the merger happens some franchises will just stop coming to Playstation and other platforms" is a definitive statement.

I fully believe as you do, that MS will likely make some ABK games exclusive if it makes sense to do so. There is a significant difference between "fully believing", "fully expecting", and "likely making" vs "will".

Then you believe as MasterCornholio does as well. You just don't like how he phrased it.

Can someone explain to me why the court would even allow a company to subpoena items not related to a case, such as employee review data? Is Sony legally obligated to provide that info? Can they redact private information? It just seems like a legal way for corporate espionage at this point but I have no idea of how the courts work in this regard.

I think this stuff is negotiated. MS says they want everything. Sony says they don't want to give them everything. The court ultimately decides.

 

[MasterCornholio]

Can someone explain to me why the court would even allow a company to subpoena items not related to a case, such as employee review data? Is Sony legally obligated to provide that info? Can they redact private information? It just seems like a legal way for corporate espionage at this point but I have no idea of how the courts work in this regard.

I'm no expert in this.

But I would like to know the answer as well.

I'm guessing that the courts have to determine what information might be relevant to this case. I know that evidence has to be approved (at least where I'm from) before it can be presented in a court of law.

 

[MasterCornholio]

Then you believe as MasterCornholio does as well. You just don't like how he phrased it.

I think this stuff is negotiated. MS says they want everything. Sony says they don't want to give them everything. The court ultimately decides.

I was making a reference to their 10 year COD deal which could also be applied to other Activision IPs.

Like a deal to guarantee Diablo on PlayStation for the next 15 years. That kind of thing.

No idea what he's reading from me though. I thought I was being clear and not retarded.

 

[Topher]

I was making a reference to their 10 year COD deal which could also be applied to other Activision IPs.

Like a deal to guarantee Diablo on PlayStation for the next 15 years. That kind of thing.

No idea what he's reading from me though. I thought I was being clear and not retarded.

I didn't see anything wrong with what you were saying myself.

 

[Barakov]

R reksveks Is this recent?

"Lard up"

MIcrosoft and its' lawyer are starting to look petty as hell.

 

[Aguero9320]

I'm no expert in this.

But I would like to know the answer as well.

I'm guessing that the courts have to determine what information might be relevant to this case. I know that evidence has to be approved (at least where I'm from) before it can be presented in a court of law.

Discovery is painful.

The court will ultimately decide the scope of discovery, but very often lean on the side of making you disclose it so that they can decide if it's admissible. At which point it's pretty much public anyway, and the case will probably never end up before a court because it will be settled beforehand. Discovery can become an exercise in either trying to embarrass you into settling, or to make it so life drainingly cumbersome that you are motivated to settle just to stop doing it.

Source: been there, done that.

 

[thismeinteil]

R reksveks Is this recent?

Pretty pathetic. Hopefully, the deal is just ended by the CMA and this drama can end. There is no reason Sony should have to give most of that data.

 

[Ozzy Onya A2Z]

R reksveks Is this recent?

It's a two way street. Sony flinch at the idea of an insanely long, by industry standards, 10 year agreement but call foul on sharing their own tactics for a similar period of time in the same industry segment (while being an asshat walled garden market #2 player). LOL.

Put up or shut on. Fuck Sony. Twats want to get involved then be prepared to take as good as you give. Great entertainment seeing Sony's bullshit moneyhatting tactics laid bare.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

It's a two way street. Sony flinch at the idea of an insanely long, by industry standards, 10 year agreement but call foul on sharing their own tactics for a similar period of time in the same industry segment (while being an asshat walled garden market #2 player). LOL.

Put up or shut on. Fuck Sony. Twats want to get involved then be prepared to take as good as you give. Great entertainment seeing Sony's bullshit moneyhatting tactics laid bare.

"bullshit money hatting tactics" started with Microsoft during the 360 era. Sony's moneyhatting has NEVER been anywhere near as bad as what Microsoft is doing, buying massive publishers and then making them exclusive forever (not just timed)

 

[Dr. Claus]

It's a two way street. Sony flinch at the idea of an insanely long, by industry standards, 10 year agreement but call foul on sharing their own tactics for a similar period of time in the same industry segment (while being an asshat walled garden market #2 player). LOL.

Put up or shut on. Fuck Sony. Twats want to get involved then be prepared to take as good as you give. Great entertainment seeing Sony's bullshit moneyhatting tactics laid bare.

 

[Topher]

I have a feeling we are inching close to a big console war. Industry consolidation is well on its way and exclusive offerings and services are what differentiates platforms. If the deal goes through for MS I doubt they are done buying folks, and Sony will continue strategic investments as always tho maybe quicker since anything left on the table could be up for grabs.

I think any more acquisitions by Microsoft will smaller studios. We will continue to see money hatting from both Sony and Microsoft. I'm not sure this thing is going to blow up that big as far as animosity between the two companies though. Microsoft and Sony both know this is business. A war borne out of malice makes for bad business decisions. Personally, I ready for this era of acquisitions to be over. This is proving to be a major distraction from games themselves. Outside of the Hi Fi Rush shadow drop, I can't remember the last time there was an announcement that I was excited about.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

I think any more acquisitions by Microsoft will smaller studios. We will continue to see money hatting from both Sony and Microsoft. I'm not sure this thing is going to blow up that big as far as animosity between the two companies though. Microsoft and Sony both know this is business. A war borne out of malice makes for bad business decisions. Personally, I ready for this era of acquisitions to be over. This is proving to be a major distraction from games themselves. Outside of the Hi Fi Rush shadow drop, I can't remember the last time there was an announcement that I was excited about.

When is the next major decision in the Activision case?

Honestly ready to move on as well, it seems like neither side is revealing their hand in terms of software so it's been a painfully boring period from a news standpoint.

 

[Topher]

When is the next major decision in the Activision case?

Honestly ready to move on as well, it seems like neither side is revealing their hand in terms of software so it's been a painfully boring period from a news standpoint.

We should find out what the CMA thinks in the next week. EU as well. I don't think there will be any decisions made for a while yet.

We've already seen that Lulu lady make a spectacle out of the TLOU TV show on twitter. Now each side is scared the other will pounce on any perceived advantage. Yeah....you are right. Painfully boring.

 

[GHG]

It's a two way street. Sony flinch at the idea of an insanely long, by industry standards, 10 year agreement but call foul on sharing their own tactics for a similar period of time in the same industry segment (while being an asshat walled garden market #2 player). LOL.

Put up or shut on. Fuck Sony. Twats want to get involved then be prepared to take as good as you give. Great entertainment seeing Sony's bullshit moneyhatting tactics laid bare.

 

[poppabk]

Microsoft and Sony being forced to spend billions acquiring studios instead of funding games is sad to see.

That's how the business works. How do you think Activision Blizzard King became the juggernaut it is? Infinity Ward didn't start as an internal studio, they bought King, they bought/merged Blizzard. Hell Blizzard has been through multiple owners. This is how tiny studios like silicon and synapse become giants like Blizzard. Acquisitions are the driving force behind investments in start-ups, most angel investors don't want to wait for 20 years of organic growth to get a return on investment.

 

[Heisenberg007]

And that's what is happening, buying studios means new games, expansions for Xbox games. None of the acquired studios have released exclusive games that were legacy IP except Forza Horizon. The bulk of PS Studios are made of acquisitions, only Sega and Nintendo did expansion by themselves.

Nope. The studios that Sony bought were practically set up and funded by Sony for years before the acquisitions -- Naughty Dog, Bluepoint, HouseMarque, Firesprite, Sucker Punch, etc.

How many IPs and games were removed from Xbox because of these purchases? A grand total of 0.

 

[Boglin]

Great entertainment seeing Sony's bullshit moneyhatting tactics laid bare.

Did you only start gaming in the middle of the Xbox One and PS4 generation?

 

[Cheezewizz]

I was making a reference to their 10 year COD deal which could also be applied to other Activision IPs.

Like a deal to guarantee Diablo on PlayStation for the next 15 years. That kind of thing.

No idea what he's reading from me though. I thought I was being clear and not retarded.

I didn't see anything wrong with what you were saying myself.

"Then there's everything else that doesn't have a guarantee for the next X amount of years. If the merger happens some franchises will just stop coming to PlayStation and other platforms."

That's what the post said. There may be nothing wrong with it to either of you and that's fine. But let's be clear about a couple of things.

1. It's a definitive statement. It's stated as an objective fact despite it not being so. Hence my advice to perhaps not be so definitive in the future until getting all the facts.

2. IMO, the post comes off as though MasterCornholio expects that ABK games should be guaranteed to come to PS by default. It's my subjective take on it for sure, and I could be wrong. It's just my take on it. Seeing as how neither of you argued this point since, I'll chalk it up to a misunderstanding on my part. Likely due to the definitive nature of the post.

Whatever the case, certainly nothing to derail the thread over, and I have wish to get banned for angering MasterCornholio.

 

[reksveks]

R reksveks Is this recent?

Learnt about it Friday evening, so rather recent.

I suspect that they will have to try and justify some of those requests for the judge, I think aggregate demographic info may be granted, think the commercial agreements also may be granted (although its a bad argument in general). Targets and Employees reviews probably not but wonder if they believe that Sony are including Nintendo in the calculation for their targets, as that would maybe be a counter to some of the reasoning behind FTC's "high performance console".

I personally think it's lawyers being lawyers aka overzealous, will be interesting to see what the FTC asked for.

 

[Topher]

"Then there's everything else that doesn't have a guarantee for the next X amount of years. If the merger happens some franchises will just stop coming to PlayStation and other platforms."

That's what the post said. There may be nothing wrong with it to either of you and that's fine. But let's be clear about a couple of things.

1. It's a definitive statement. It's stated as an objective fact despite it not being so. Hence my advice to perhaps not be so definitive in the future until getting all the facts.

2. IMO, the post comes off as though MasterCornholio expects that ABK games should be guaranteed to come to PS by default. It's my subjective take on it for sure, and I could be wrong. It's just my take on it. Seeing as how neither of you argued this point since, I'll chalk it up to a misunderstanding on my part. Likely due to the definitive nature of the post.

Whatever the case, certainly nothing to derail the thread over, and I have wish to get banned for angering MasterCornholio.

I don't think anyone is angry. I certainly see nothing stated that would cause anyone to get banned. But yes, this is clearly a misunderstanding. I think you read his post as a definitive statement of fact and that wasn't his intention. I read his statement as a prediction of what he thinks will happen if the acquisition passes. That's why I was confused by your response to him. I think asking for clarification is in order in those circumstances, but we cleared it up regardless so no harm, no foul.

 

[Banjo64]

"Lard up"

MIcrosoft and its' lawyer are starting to look petty as hell.

Not petty, just cunts. Those requests are ludicrous, but they are the good guys™ of course. I'll keep reading through the thread, but it wouldn't surprise me to see some posters defending this as necessary.

 

[Ronin_7]

So no actual word yet from the CMA and European Commission on what they will actually do. So we continue to wait then.

You don't need word when you are Microsoft.

They know exactly how it's playing out.

FTC - Blocked

EC - Statement of Objections but accepting potential remedies to approve

CMA - Likely blocked according to MS legal team.

China - ???

 

[ToadMan]

MasterCornholio I think this stuff is negotiated. MS says they want everything. Sony says they don't want to give them everything. The court ultimately decides.

The subpoena is issued by the court - Sony are compelled to respond.

However there is a question of the data being "reasonable and relevant" to the case and not causing excessive burden on Sony to produce. It's up to MS to show it is reasonable and relevant data for their case.

So far it seems Sony are claiming excessive burden to produce that data. If the court agrees then they won't have to produce it all.

Either way it slows the whole process down. Not sure what that means but it seems to me the more time passes without resolution, the worse it is for MS and ABK who are in limbo and unable to plan effectively for the future.


(3) A request for a subpoena shall state the reasonable scope and general relevance to the case of the testimony and of any books and records sought. The Board may require resubmission of a request that does not provide this information.

(d) Requests to Quash or Modify—Upon written request by the person subpoenaed or by a party, made within 10 days after service but in any event not later than the time specified in the subpoena for compliance, the Board may quash or modify the subpoena if it is unreasonable or oppressive or for other good cause shown

 

[MasterCornholio]

"Then there's everything else that doesn't have a guarantee for the next X amount of years. If the merger happens some franchises will just stop coming to PlayStation and other platforms."

That's what the post said. There may be nothing wrong with it to either of you and that's fine. But let's be clear about a couple of things.

1. It's a definitive statement. It's stated as an objective fact despite it not being so. Hence my advice to perhaps not be so definitive in the future until getting all the facts.

2. IMO, the post comes off as though MasterCornholio expects that ABK games should be guaranteed to come to PS by default. It's my subjective take on it for sure, and I could be wrong. It's just my take on it. Seeing as how neither of you argued this point since, I'll chalk it up to a misunderstanding on my part. Likely due to the definitive nature of the post.

Whatever the case, certainly nothing to derail the thread over, and I have wish to get banned for angering MasterCornholio.

I'm not angry with you at all. It was simply a misunderstanding and I understand how that can make a conversation frustrating. I don't see why you would get banned over this so don't worry about it.

Anyways I'm glad we cleared things up.

I don't think anyone is angry. I certainly see nothing stated that would cause anyone to get banned. But yes, this is clearly a misunderstanding. I think you read his post as a definitive statement of fact and that wasn't his intention. I read his statement as a prediction of what he thinks will happen if the acquisition passes. That's why I was confused by your response to him. I think asking for clarification is in order in those circumstances, but we cleared it up regardless so no harm, no foul.

Basically. I thought I wasn't clear with my post but I'm glad you understand what I meant. C Cheezewizz did take it a bit hard though which I find a little strange after I clarified what I meant.

It really isn't a big deal. Everything is clarified and we can move on with this. Nobody is getting banned and I'm not angry at all.

Even if I was upset in some way I don't have the power to ban people here. I don't believe it will happen because it was a simple misunderstanding that was cleared up in a civilised manner.

 

[ToadMan]

Only warriors wouldn't want more games on Game Pass. Dr. Claus would agree.

Only a warrior wouldn't want more games on as many platforms as possible including Sony platforms.

So I'll count you as another vote against this acquisition by MS….

 

[pasterpl]

For better or worse exclusivity deals are a part of the industry but no industry player except MS, has the means to buy a monopoly or manipulate the market through simple exclusivity deals.

Wasn't it Sony that made rounds and visited most of major publishers to get some exclusive content for ps5? There were some reports that in some cases Sony outbid Ms for games marketing rights/timed exclusivity etc. so company will smaller market cap but bigger mind share can poke the bear now and then. Issue is now, when the memed warchest of MS became reality and opened in 2018, just slightly and now it is fully in beast mode. They already said they will continue acquisitions after ABK and imagine what will happen if the ABK deal collapses and MS is left with 70 billion that they have already accounted for gaming acquisitions.