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[ReBurn]

I'd question if he'll stay if/when the acquisition fails. IIRC a group of shareholders have an ongoing legal case saying that the Bobby/board are failing in their duties to ATVI shareholders by having a conflict of interest with the size of the parachute payments compared to their size of shareholdings.

If the acquisition fails, the size of those payments could IMO get intense external and internal scrutiny leading to either Bobby and the board needing to up their investment in the company by shareholdings or accept those golden handshakes are now no longer a potential conflict of interest in the eyes of the wider shareholders. If that were to happen, would Bobby still have the support he currently enjoys at ATVI?

Yes, Bobby would probably still have support. He has been a driving force behind the value of the company. That group of shareholders who sued doesn't have enough influence to do anything, which is why they sued. At the time they controlled less than 5 million of the company's 780+ million outstanding shares. It's little more than a publicity stunt. The rest of the shareholders voted last year to keep Kotick and the board in place though 2023.

Those lawsuits won't result in any massive payments should they succeed and the merger fails. It's already an uphill battle to prove any fiduciary harm. They are about hurt feelings.

 

[PaintTinJr]

Yes, Bobby would probably still have support. He has been a driving force behind the value of the company. That group of shareholders who sued doesn't have enough influence to do anything, which is why they sued. At the time they controlled less than 5 million of the company's 780+ million outstanding shares. It's little more than a publicity stunt. The rest of the shareholders voted last year to keep Kotick and the board in place though 2023.

Those lawsuits won't result in any massive payments should they succeed and the merger fails. It's already an uphill battle to prove any fiduciary harm. They are about hurt feelings.

I didn't expect them to win the suits, just place focus on the setup for authorities that might agree that there is a conflict of interest when effectively employees are rewarded disproportionately and motivated to make decision in favour of things they might not, if they were more heavily invested in the shares.

 

[feynoob]

I'd question if he'll stay if/when the acquisition fails.

From what I remember, this deal is saving his arse.
If this deal fails, he will get in to a lot of trouble.

 

[reksveks]

I didn't expect them to win the suits, just place focus on the setup for authorities that might agree that there is a conflict of interest when effectively employees are rewarded disproportionately and motivated to make decision in favour of things they might not, if they were more heavily invested in the shares.

Basically true for all startups

 

[DeepEnigma]

Whatever you do SenjutsuSage do NOT buy games for PS5. It's not a true 10Tf machine! I threw mine in the garbage when you revealed to everyone it's true stable clock of only 1930MHz. Ewww GROSS! Cerny is such a lying-ass marketing bullshitter!

SenjutsuSage

You do realize, with all of this shilling FUD to try and downplay the PS5, it actually makes the XSX look objectively worse with faceoffs compared to that lowly machine, right?

 

[ReBurn]

I didn't expect them to win the suits, just place focus on the setup for authorities that might agree that there is a conflict of interest when effectively employees are rewarded disproportionately and motivated to make decision in favour of things they might not, if they were more heavily invested in the shares.

Employees are always rewarded disproportionately, though. At least in the US. Most US employees don't have any sort of equity stake in the companies they work for. That's compensation typically reserved for fewer and fewer people the higher up they go.

The primary responsibility of Bobby Kotick, his executive leadership team, and the ATVI board of directors is to extract value from the economy in the form of share price and any dividends they might pay from profit. Employees are the human capital he uses to do his job. There is no conflict of interest with him prioritizing share price. It's literally his job to do that.

 

[NickFire]

SenjutsuSage

You do realize, with all of this shilling FUD to try and downplay the PS5, it actually makes the XSX look objectively worse with faceoffs compared to that lowly machine, right?

Not if you realize the full extent of PS5's depravity. Only a few know this, but the factory installed SSD can't be removed because it covers up the little block that sends venmos and candy to the people making comparison vids. It's a really big problem and why they put grease on the camera when filming just one version. If you wipe the grease off, they look the same.

 

[adamsapple]

Exclusive: Microsoft disputes U.K. regulator's key Call of Duty stat

Conflicting data about how many PlayStation fans would leave for Xbox

www.axios.com

• The CMA’s own survey, conducted by DJS Research in December, estimates that 15% of avid Call of Duty PlayStation players (playing at least 10 hours or spending at least $100 on the series in the past year) would switch to Xbox.
  
  
• The CMA’s own figure for all PlayStation owners who’d leave for Xbox is redacted from the public version of its recently released provisional findings, though is cited as proof that “PlayStation is likely to lose a significant share.“
  
  
• Microsoft's survey found that 10.5% of CoD gamers who ranked the franchise as one of their two favorites would have switched consoles.

More in the link, too long to post it all here.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Exclusive: Microsoft disputes U.K. regulator's key Call of Duty stat

Conflicting data about how many PlayStation fans would leave for Xbox

www.axios.com

More in the link, too long to post it all here.

Just like MS's key Bloodborne stat, amirite?

 

[GHG]

http://[URL]https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/microsoft-key-call-of-duty-sony-uk-cma

[/URL]






More in the link, too long to post it all here.

too small to hurt Sony’s ability to compete and too small to make a withholding strategy profitable for Xbox.

They've not previously been overly concerned about profitable strategies so why start now?

 

[DeepEnigma]

too small to hurt Sony’s ability to compete and too small to make a withholding strategy profitable for Xbox.

They've not previously been overly concerned about profitable strategies so why start now?

The Game Pass bleeding cracks are starting to show every time they open their yaps lately.

 

[NickFire]

too small to hurt Sony’s ability to compete and too small to make a withholding strategy profitable for Xbox.

They've not previously been overly concerned about profitable strategies so why start now?

If Nintendo is not a competitor, and COD is too small to impact Sony's ability to compete, then how does this deal help MS compete better?

 

[DeepEnigma]

If Nintendo is not a competitor, and COD is too small to impact Sony's ability to compete, then how does this deal help MS compete better?

 

[Topher]

• The CMA’s own survey, conducted by DJS Research in December, estimates that 15% of avid Call of Duty PlayStation players (playing at least 10 hours or spending at least $100 on the series in the past year) would switch to Xbox.
  
  
• The CMA’s own figure for all PlayStation owners who’d leave for Xbox is redacted from the public version of its recently released provisional findings, though is cited as proof that “PlayStation is likely to lose a significant share.“
  
  
• Microsoft's survey found that 10.5% of CoD gamers who ranked the franchise as one of their two favorites would have switched consoles.

53% of responses in that DJS survey were "don't know". I read that wrong.

"Microsoft's survey".....lol

 

[feynoob]

Microsoft's survey found that 10.5% of CoD gamers who ranked the franchise as one of their two favorites would have switched consoles.

The CMA’s own survey, conducted by DJS Research in December, estimates that 15% of avid Call of Duty PlayStation players (playing at least 10 hours or spending at least $100 on the series in the past year) would switch to Xbox.

Doesnt this prove CMA argument?
10.5% is still alot.

 

[Topher]

Doesnt this prove CMA argument?
10.5% is still alot.

It is a self-defeating argument regardless. They keep hammering that they won't take COD from PS but then all of the sudden they say "but even if we did....."

Somehow I don't think that instills CMA with a lot of confidence.

 

[DeepEnigma]

"but even if we did....."

 

[Topher]

"But for shits and giggles, let's say we did take COD from PS in.....oh I don't know....pick a random number.....10 years......"

 

[Drell]

"Microsoft's survey".....lol

I'm still thinking about what has more value between this and my uncle who works at Nintendo.

 

[quest]

Doesnt this prove CMA argument?
10.5% is still alot.

Its not a lot lets say 20% of ps buyers actively play COD that be a year 20 million 10% of that is 2 million is a drop in the bucket. It be minus 2 percent for sony and 2 percent gained by Microsoft. Hardly earth shattering and a reason to stop this deal unless protecting the market leader comes first.

 

[NickFire]

http://[URL]https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/microsoft-key-call-of-duty-sony-uk-cma

[/URL]






More in the link, too long to post it all here.

"Microsoft says the U.K. regulator that might block its Activision Blizzard acquisition has significantly overcounted the potential impact of making the Call of Duty franchise exclusive to Xbox and PC, the tech giant first tells Axios."

When I first skimmed this I did not notice the bolded part. The bolded part and publication date suggests that MS feeld the need to continue litigating the CMA case in the court of public opinion, despite having met with them just last week. That does not scream the deal can be saved in the UK in my humble opinion.

 

[reksveks]

FTC subpoena updates
- ABK's subpoena of T2 now has until the 20th
- FTC's subpoena of Google has until the 9th
- FTC's subpoena of Sony has until the 10th
- FTC's subpoena of T2 has until the 10th

 

[NickFire]

FTC subpoena updates
- ABK's subpoena of T2 now has until the 20th
- FTC's subpoena of Google has until the 9th
- FTC's subpoena of Sony has until the 10th
- FTC's subpoena of T2 has until the 10th

What matters more, but not all that much in terms of the actual deal being investigated, is when the motions to compel get scheduled for hearing.

 

[Varteras]

Microsoft lookin awful sus. "This is really about Candy Crush. But we won't take the deal unless we get CoD. Besides, it won't really hurt Sony if we took it away. Which we won't. But if we did... they'd be fine. I mean, we really need it to compete. But we'll also put it on literally everything for a decade or more. Including everything else we'd buy".

 

[splattered]

Microsoft lookin awful sus. "This is really about Candy Crush. But we won't take the deal unless we get CoD. Besides, it won't really hurt Sony if we took it away. Which we won't. But if we did... they'd be fine. I mean, we really need it to compete. But we'll also put it on literally everything for a decade or more. Including everything else we'd buy".

Nothing sus about any of that

 

[Varteras]

Nothing sus about any of that

 

[feynoob]

Its not a lot lets say 20% of ps buyers actively play COD that be a year 20 million 10% of that is 2 million is a drop in the bucket. It be minus 2 percent for sony and 2 percent gained by Microsoft. Hardly earth shattering and a reason to stop this deal unless protecting the market leader comes first.

That 2m is a serious loss if you calculate long term sales.

If a user spends $200(COD, plus skins, plus battle pass) and a another $200(buying games from the system) every year, that brings the total loss up to $4.8b for 6 years.

That is how much Sony would lose from that 10% users. And those money will go to MS/Xbox.

It's why CMA is concerned. there is a long term loss for Sony.

 

[jm89]

"Microsoft says the U.K. regulator that might block its Activision Blizzard acquisition has significantly overcounted the potential impact of making the Call of Duty franchise exclusive to Xbox and PC, the tech giant first tells Axios."

When I first skimmed this I did not notice the bolded part. The bolded part and publication date suggests that MS feeld the need to continue litigating the CMA case in the court of public opinion, despite having met with them just last week. That does not scream the deal can be saved in the UK in my humble opinion.

Even before hearing with the CMA they where throwing shade at them, feels like what they may have offered as concessions microsoft know is not enough, so now use the media to try and damage CMA reputation if it falls through.

Didn't see this with the EC afaik.

 

[Elios83]

http://[URL][URL]https://www.axios.com/2023/03/06/microsoft-key-call-of-duty-sony-uk-cma

[/URL][/URL]






More in the link, too long to post it all here.

Super bad sign if at this stage they're still trying to fight the CMA over basic findings with their own surveys. At this point they should talk about remedies...
Which means there is no agreement in sight with the CMA.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Microsoft lookin awful sus. "This is really about Candy Crush. But we won't take the deal unless we get CoD. Besides, it won't really hurt Sony if we took it away. Which we won't. But if we did... they'd be fine. I mean, we really need it to compete. But we'll also put it on literally everything for a decade or more. Including everything else we'd buy".

What's sus about not wanting to sell off or get rid of one of the most highly successful videogame brands in human history and the world?

 

[feynoob]

He is here guys.

 

[Varteras]

What's sus about not wanting to sell off or get rid of one of the most highly successful videogame brands in human history and the world?

There you are! Come to grace us with another coke-fueled forum dissertation after taking a break from your cringe Twitter campaigns?

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Super bad sign if at this stage they're still trying to fight the CMA over basic findings with their own surveys. At this point they should talk about remedies...
Which means there is no agreement in sight with the CMA.

It's merely part of their larger response to the CMA's provisional findings... which will be public soon. At every step of this process, people have misunderstood that things that are taking place aren't just out of desperation or a sign of trouble, but part of the normal process. Microsoft was supposed to respond to the provisional findings by the CMA in writing, meaning likely addressing every single point they made, not just their survey of the number of gamers who would switch. And considering that survey the CMA conducted is a significant chunk of their findings in the area of consoles affecting Playstation, diminishing its credibility becomes paramount to the closing parties.

I'm stunned I needed to explain that.

 

[Varteras]

It's merely part of their larger response to the CMA's provisional findings... which will be public soon. At every step of this process, people have misunderstood that things that are taking place aren't just out of desperation or a sign of trouble, but part of the normal process. Microsoft was supposed to respond to the provisional findings by the CMA in writing, meaning likely addressing every single point they made, not just their survey of the number of gamers who would switch. And considering that survey the CMA conducted is a significant chunk of their findings in the area of consoles affecting Playstation, diminishing its credibility becomes paramount to the closing parties.

I'm stunned I needed to explain that.

Dude is stunned he needs to explain something when he didn't understand an easy joke.

 

[Topher]

I'm stunned I needed to explain that.

I don't see anyone asking you a thing, dude.

 

[jm89]

It's merely part of their larger response to the CMA's provisional findings... which will be public soon. At every step of this process, people have misunderstood that things that are taking place aren't just out of desperation or a sign of trouble, but part of the normal process. Microsoft was supposed to respond to the provisional findings by the CMA in writing, meaning likely addressing every single point they made, not just their survey of the number of gamers who would switch. And considering that survey the CMA conducted is a significant chunk of their findings in the area of consoles affecting Playstation, diminishing its credibility becomes paramount to the closing parties.

I'm stunned I needed to explain that.

Only 1 paragraph and 1 sentence?

 

[Varteras]

I don't see anyone asking you a thing, dude.

Bro! People need to know his truth. Just like the true performance of the PS5 that everyone was lying about!

 

[feynoob]

It's merely part of their larger response to the CMA's provisional findings... which will be public soon. At every step of this process, people have misunderstood that things that are taking place aren't just out of desperation or a sign of trouble, but part of the normal process. Microsoft was supposed to respond to the provisional findings by the CMA in writing, meaning likely addressing every single point they made, not just their survey of the number of gamers who would switch. And considering that survey the CMA conducted is a significant chunk of their findings in the area of consoles affecting Playstation, diminishing its credibility becomes paramount to the closing parties.

I'm stunned I needed to explain that.

You lost any decency of credibility when you started whining about this deal on twitter.
Dude stop using twitter and stop focusing on this deal. You are becoming crazy because of this deal. You are going in a rapid hole.

Take this advice from someone who almost went in to the rabbid hole that is reddit.

 

[Topher]

You lost any decency of credibility when you started whining about this deal on twitter.
Dude stop using twitter and stop focusing on this deal. You are becoming crazy because of this deal. You are going in a rapid hole.

We are long past "becoming crazy", dude.

 

[Dick Jones]

You lost any decency of credibility when you started whining about this deal on twitter.
Dude stop using twitter and stop focusing on this deal. You are becoming crazy because of this deal. You are going in a rapid hole.

Take this advice from someone who almost went in to the rabbid hole that is reddit.

Leave him be. His incoherent ramblings on Twitter is gold and everyone (whatever their view on the deal) got enjoyment from it. Keep going down that rabbit hole Alice.

 

[Hendrick's]

The Game Pass bleeding cracks are starting to show every time they open their yaps lately.

What does that statement have to do with Game Pass? You're just making shit up.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

There you are! Come to grace us with another coke-fueled forum dissertation after taking a break from your cringe Twitter campaigns?

Sounds like you're a fan! Guess you'll find me and regulators must get our coke from the same place after they approve this deal.

 

[Topher]

Sounds like you're a fan! Guess you'll find me and regulators must get our coke from the same place after they approve this deal.

Apparently not since you claimed this deal would go down without any concessions at all. I mean....you are already wrong.

 

[Varteras]

Ah hell. Why not? Let me expand on the joke a bit more. I'm bored!

I'll spare your scroll wheel or phone if you don't care!

Spoiler: Joke

CMA: So, we have some concerns over you owning CoD.

Microsoft: Ah, dude! Don't worry about it! We really want Candy Crush. That's the real prize, my man!

CMA: Okay! Cool! So then you won't mind divesting CoD then!

Microsoft: Ah, no. Sorry, amigo! No can do! Haha we kinda need that one!

CMA: Oh. Well... so then this deal kind of is about CoD then.

Microsoft: I mean, like, "technically" yes but really no.

CMA: Um, okay. So, why do you need CoD?

Microsoft: Okay. So there's these guys from Japan. Super weirdos. Have you seen their Maid Cafes? Anyways! We've kinda been screwing the pooch for 20 years now and they've been REALLY kicking our asses.

CMA: ...uh huh...

Microsoft: So, like, we figured, "Hey! We got some cabbage. Let's BUY SHIT". So then this real scumbag got ahold of us and wanted to sell CoD and his whole company and we're like, " Fuuuuuck yeeeeeeah boooooooi"!

CMA: We know how it went down. We saw the filings. They're out there for everyone to see. You're not really addressing our concern here. We're not sure you should have CoD. It might damage that market.

Microsoft: Nah, dude! We're super chill about it! We're gonna put all those games on everything, plus CoD, for, like, 10 years man! Cool, right?

CMA: So... you want this deal so you can compete... 10 years from now?

Microsoft: For sure! Maybe even further out than that! I mean, who knows, right? Only Jesus, brother! We're not psychics! Haha

CMA: Sure, but we're concerned that's not what you'd actually do or even down the road it might still cause an issue.

Microsoft: Okay so check this out! We ran some numbers, right? Totally legit, shit. I mean, IRON CLAD, you feel me? Anyways! Even if.. and when I say if I mean BIG IF... even if we took CoD away immediately... pfffft! Sony's fine, bro! Like, real fine. Like, Jessica Alba in Sin City fine! Won't be that big of a deal. My heart to god, bro! They probably wouldn't even notice!

CMA: So you want CoD to be able to compete 10 years from now with a franchise you insist wouldn't change much anyways. How does that help you compete, exactly?

Microsoft: Mmmm! Dude, have you tried this chocolate bar called Toblerone? We were just over on mainland Europe. So good! We should probably buy them too!

CMA later that day: Hey, Lina. Wait til you hear this bollocks!

 

[Varteras]

Sounds like you're a fan! Guess you'll find me and regulators must get our coke from the same place after they approve this deal.

Everyone here is your fan, bud! Laughter is great medicine!

 

[Banjo64]

I don't see anyone asking you a thing, dude.

I’d like to ask how the PS5 is only an 8tf console.

 

[Varteras]

I’d like to ask how the PS5 is only an 8tf console.

 

[Astray]

Still don't understand why MS wants to litigate the deal in public lol.

 

[demigod]

You lost any decency of credibility when you started whining about this deal on twitter.
Dude stop using twitter and stop focusing on this deal. You are becoming crazy because of this deal. You are going in a rapid hole.

Take this advice from someone who almost went in to the rabbid hole that is reddit.

I thought he quit twitter because Elon Musk touched his weewee.

SenjutsuSage we are still waiting on your answer why an 8.8TF is embarrassing a 12TF machine. The tools still haven’t arrived or something?

 

[Dick Jones]

Still don't understand why MS wants to litigate the deal in public lol.

They heard if they went public with it, there would be a shockingly funny twitter account all gamers would mock.