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[jm89]

Before we celebrate, let me remind you that CMA decision to protect cloud gaming only applies to this deal.

MS can still go ham in this sectir without Activision blizzard. So it's not a fully protected market, until there is laws that protects it.

MS still has a clear advantage and can dominate this market without this deal.

Sure they can.

They just won't get a free ride, and will have to do it with their own competence.

We know how that has worked out in the console market.

 

[Gone]

It's worth noting that the FT were the ones running a ton of adverts on behalf of Microsoft in the lead up to the CMA ruling.

And with that said, having read the article I don't see anywhere in the direct quote from the EU official that actually states the CMA "overstated" anything.

You don't have to be a genius to know that they did overstate the numbers.

 

[Dick Jones]

You don't have to be a genius to know that they did overstate the numbers.

Microsoft?

 

[feynoob]

Sure they can.

They just won't get a free ride, and will have to do it with their own competence.

We know how that has worked out in the console market.

They have azure and 3rd party games, which can negate their console failure.
That is the big difference here.

This is place where MS big money can shine, unlike the console sector, which needs you to have great exclusive games.
Spend money to pay those poor devs to put their games on your cloud gaming.

 

[GHG]

You don't have to be a genius to know that they did overstate the numbers.

Conjecture.

The CMA outlined in detail how they arrived at the numbers they did, going as far to source where the raw data came from (Microsoft themselves, cloud competitors, etc).

I'm yet to see anyone conclusively outline how they "overstated" their numbers without needing to resort to using speculative and/or incomplete data.

 

[feynoob]

Conjecture.

The CMA outlined in detail how they arrived at the numbers they did, going as far to source where the raw data came from (Microsoft themselves, cloud competitors, etc).

I'm yet to see anyone conclusively outline how they "overstated" their numbers without needing to resort to using speculative and incomplete data.

 

[Sanepar]

Well if both sides got expensive lawyers, they plan to fight

 

[Astray]

Before we celebrate, let me remind you that CMA decision to protect cloud gaming only applies to this deal.

MS can still go ham in this sectir without Activision blizzard. So it's not a fully protected market, until there is laws that protects it.

MS still has a clear advantage and can dominate this market without this deal.

if this block holds, it essentially hard limits Microsoft to buying the smaller tier devs (think Asobo) and publishers (think Focus Home), and those acquisitions don't move the needle at all.

if they try to go for anything larger than that, then they will bump into very similar issues to the ones they are bumping into here.

 

[Topher]

Ehh. Really CMA? But I guess I'm not surprised anymore. It's like CMA knew what conclusion they want to go for and cherrypicked data so they will suit their needs. Kinda sad. But I guess Microsoft/ActiBlizz lawyers will have a field day with this in front of CAT. Especially since Amazon recently let every prime member to have access to Luna. So by CMA math, Luna now has 200 million users.

This again? If all hopes are pinned on the calculation of current market share when the concern is based on future competition then this really is a slam dunk for the CMA. Hopefully for Microsoft's sake, their lawyers will come up with something better than this since, at worst, CMA will have to adjust the number for current market share and then proceed to prohibit the acquisition regardless.

 

[feynoob]

if this block holds, it essentially hard limits Microsoft to buying the smaller tier devs (think Asobo) and publishers (think Focus Home), and those acquisitions don't move the needle at all.

if they try to go for anything larger than that, then they will bump into very similar issues to the ones they are bumping into here.

The issue is not that MS can acquire companies or not. Its their wallet that can essentially get those 3rd party games to their platform.

Xcloud with B2P method and gamepass is too strong. That alone will move alot of needle that way.

 

[dotnotbot]

Lol at Florian saying UK gov will overrule CMA's decision in the end. Imagine how bad this would look like - UK gov bending over for biggest US corporation.

 

[Topher]

Lol at Florian saying the Parliament will overrule CMA's decision in the end. Imagine how bad this would look like - UK gov bending over for biggest US corporation.

This guy reminds me so much of Donald Trump.

 

[Three]

MS can still go ham in this sectir without Activision blizzard. So it's not a fully protected market, until there is laws that protects it.

MS still has a clear advantage and can dominate this market without this deal.

They themselves are saying this only slows them down and ABK was just to accelerate it. They wanted to accelerate their position to get way ahead of competitors with this deal.
Pure speculation based on recent events but I bet MS even has a big game deal with Take 2 come this summer.

 

[Dick Jones]

This guy reminds me so much of Donald Trump.

Leave my alt account alone. I am setting up my Onlyfans soon where you pay 15 a month or 180 for 3 years if you pay the $1 upgrade.

 

[feynoob]

They themselves are saying this only slows them down and ABK was just to accelerate it. They wanted to accelerate their position to get way ahead of competitors with this deal.
Pure speculation based on recent events but I bet MS even has a big deal with Take 2 come this summer.

If this deal is blocked, then MS cant buy take2, EA, and ubisoft. They are outlined as big 4.

 

[GHG]

Lol at Florian saying UK gov will overrule CMA's decision in the end. Imagine how bad this would look like - UK gov bending over for biggest US corporation.

And all over videogames none the less.

It's well known that the EU are for-hire (a case which is still ongoing), however if the UK were to take a similar approach then it would look especially bad considering the amount of distance they attempted to create between themselves and the EU throughout Brexit.

 

[Three]

If this deal is blocked, then MS cant buy take2, EA, and ubisoft. They are outlined as big 4.

Sorry, I mean a game deal at the showcase. Edited to include game before deal to make that clear.

 

[Captain Toad]

MS can close the deal regardless of what the CMA say, and they wouldn't have to leave the UK, nor would they.
They would just not be able to operate GP the same way in the UK. It would have to be restructured.
The end result would be UK customers not getting what everyone else it getting.

Lol, what? How'd you reach that conclusion?

 

[Ar¢tos]

Sorry, I mean a game deal at the showcase. Edited to include game before deal to make that clear.

Game deals are REALLY REALLY expensive when your market share is small, even more expensive for big AAA games, and add Zero value to the company. No way shareholders are going to approve money spent on that.

 

[CuNi]

The fucking meltdowns here are glorious. Top class fodder guys, keep it up.

MS can close the deal regardless of what the CMA say, and they wouldn't have to leave the UK, nor would they.
They would just not be able to operate GP the same way in the UK. It would have to be restructured.
The end result would be UK customers not getting what everyone else it getting.

You might think that, but sadly, the terms of the merger are an OK from specifically named, the EU, FTC and CMA.
So even if there were legal loopholes how to go through with the merger even if the CMA blocks it, the deal they have would be void as both parties agreed that all 3 authorities have to agree to the merger.

So as long as the CMA does not somehow end up agreeing to it, this deal is, in its current form, off the table.

 

[MarkMe2525]

In breaking news, MS acquires the UK and has placed Aaron Greenberg as head of the CMA. They promise there will be no conflict of interest and business will go on as normal.

 

[Bernoulli]

In breaking news, MS acquires the UK and has placed Aaron Greenberg as head of the CMA. They promise there will be no conflict of interest and business will go on as normal.

citizenship included with gamepass, best deal in gaming

 

[Dick Jones]

In breaking news, MS acquires the UK and has placed Aaron Greenberg as head of the CMA. They promise there will be no conflict of interest and business will go on as normal.

That would delay the completion of the acquisition longer than an independent CMA.

 

[Three]

Game deals are REALLY REALLY expensive when your market share is small, even more expensive for big AAA games, and add Zero value to the company. No way shareholders are going to approve money spent on that.

For console exclusives I'd agree it's difficult and expensive. Play "GTA6 Online on xcloud" or some gamepass type of deal for GTA6 Online vs $20 standalone on other services, I'm not so sure. It's pure speculation though at the possibilities. Sony may even do it but regulators are interested in Take2.

 

[GHG]

In breaking news, MS acquires the UK and has placed Aaron Greenberg as head of the CMA. They promise there will be no conflict of interest and business will go on as normal.

Greenberg was Boris all along.

 

[dotnotbot]

In breaking news, MS acquires the UK and has placed Aaron Greenberg as head of the CMA. They promise there will be no conflict of interest and business will go on as normal.

Also placed Florian Mueller as a minister of newly established Ministry of Truth.

 

[drganon]

This guy reminds me so much of Donald Trump.

Trump probably still had more credibility.

 

[Bernoulli]

here is the video of the CMA discussing everything

Parliamentlive.tv

Business and Trade Committee

parliamentlive.tv

 

[Topher]

This guy can't stop delivering copium to them

King Charles could fart and this guy would say it was proof that the deal will go through.

 

[Bernoulli]

here is the video of the CMA discussing everything

Parliamentlive.tv

Business and Trade Committee

parliamentlive.tv

at 11:00:15 the guy from parliament says that the government will give more powers to the CMA to prevent big tech takeovers and says that the Big tech are putting a lot of money into paying activists/lobbyist (hello fosspatents) to try to influence the CMA and give them a bad image

 

[cornonthecrobb]

im so glad this deal is dead now..... clear none of these big 3 want it to go through.

 

[DJ12]

at 11:00:15 the guy from parliament says that the government will give more powers to the CMA to prevent big tech takeovers and says that the Big tech are putting a lot of money into paying activists/lobbyist (hello fosspatents) to try to influence the CMA and give them a bad image

He probably doesn't even understand they're talking about people like him

 

[Elios83]

at 11:00:15 the guy from parliament says that the government will give more powers to the CMA to prevent big tech takeovers and says that the Big tech are putting a lot of money into paying activists/lobbyist (hello fosspatents) to try to influence the CMA and give them a bad image

Fake, Florian has already decided that the parliament is unhappy with the CMA and they will be forced to change their verdict without even appealing to CAT

 

[Kilau]

at 11:00:15 the guy from parliament says that the government will give more powers to the CMA to prevent big tech takeovers and says that the Big tech are putting a lot of money into paying activists/lobbyist (hello fosspatents) to try to influence the CMA and give them a bad image

I can see why foss thinks an overrule is inevitable.

 

[Topher]

I can see why foss thinks an overrule is inevitable.

Parliament is just fucking around with CMA. Saying they are giving them more power and then.....

 

[IFireflyl]

They won't with the remedies they offered. This has been mentioned in the CMA block. They 100% go to MS.

How would a game bought on xbox and streamed elsewhere have the game sales margin go to the service? It's not possible.

This is where our disconnect is. You're assuming the game is being streamed from Microsoft, but Amazon Luna and Sony PlayStation's could gaming service doesn't operate off of Microsoft's servers. If Microsoft allows consumers to purchase the [digital] game via Sony or Amazon, then the consumer has the right to stream the game via Amazon's and/or Sony's streaming service, and their streaming services have all micro-transactions go through their payment processors. They don't allow the games on their streaming service to bypass their payment processors. That's the difference between services like Sony vs Nvidia.

 

[Bernoulli]

clickbait title but CMA is on Fire

"I understand the inference - that when a decision is made that blocks a deal, there are questions over whether the UK is open for business," CMA chair Marcus Bokkerink replied. "All businesses know there's a very big difference between building a business, investing in a new business, investing in a startup, creating a new business - there's a big difference between that and buying an already-established, well-established firm with established positions. The two are not the same.

"The [European] Commission agreed the deal would give rise to competition concerns, there's no difference between the CMA and EC there," Cardell told MPs, "but the Commission has however concluded it appropriate to accept [Microsoft's] remedy.

"They have their own test to apply and they've reached their own view, and they're fully entitled to reach that view. But we remain of the view, from a UK perspective, that it was not appropriate to accept that remedy."

"I would challenge the premise that there is an impact on international confidence on doing business in the UK," Bokkerink continued, suggesting that it would conversely not inspire confidence if the UK was seen to be "turning a blind eye to anti-competitive mergers".

UK MPs grill regulator over Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal block, day after EU grants approval

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has defended its decision to block Microsoft's $68.7bn Activision Blizzard buy…

www.eurogamer.net

 

[Thirty7ven]

at 11:00:15 the guy from parliament says that the government will give more powers to the CMA to prevent big tech takeovers and says that the Big tech are putting a lot of money into paying activists/lobbyist (hello fosspatents) to try to influence the CMA and give them a bad image

Old english money getting sick of big American companies running the show.

 

[lefty1117]

Curious if there was no brexit would the CMA still have a say in this or would it have fallen under the EU commission response

 

[Three]

If Microsoft allows consumers to purchase the [digital] game via Sony or Amazon, then the consumer has the right to stream the game via Amazon's and/or Sony's streaming service, and their streaming services have all micro-transactions go through their payment processors. They don't allow the games on their streaming service to bypass their payment processors. That's the difference between services like Sony vs Nvidia.

Yeah this is what I was trying to say though. I thought you were saying that a person who bought an xbox game would be given the right to stream from playstations cloud service?:

It doesn't matter what they want.
This means that if a consumer in the EU buys Call of Duty on Xbox, but they want to play that game on their PlayStation cloud stream service, Microsoft has to find a way to make that work. Otherwise they are violating the consumer's right according to the EC remedy.

 

[Ogbert]

Lol at Florian saying UK gov will overrule CMA's decision in the end. Imagine how bad this would look like - UK gov bending over for biggest US corporation.

Like we did for Google’s tax payment.

We have form for well and truly bending over!

 

[DeepEnigma]

OMG!

Put your pitchforks away, I was referring to this thread.

If you look back at the last few pages I am discussing the topic and have people responding with personal attacks, playing the man not the ball.

Anyway thats the last of this from me, future posts will be about the topic of the thread.

You sure make a lot of noise by saying a whole lot of nothing.

 

[Ogbert]

Curious if there was no brexit would the CMA still have a say in this or would it have fallen under the EU commission response

Good question.

Technically yes, domestic regulators are always able to apply their own position but, as you can imagine, they tend to follow suit.

Today, a number of UK regulators are actually trying to be as attractive as possible to international business, which is why the original CMA decision was surprising.

 

[DeepEnigma]

Topher
Your question about yesterday.

Amazing and transparent. They approve so they can investigate and potentially levy fines (free money!) later. EU business per usual.

All at the expense of the consumers and other market competitors. Fines don't prevent them from continuing to operate at what got them the fines. Pushes them to scoop up for more revenue. You create the beast that needs to be fed.

 

[Topher]

OMG!

Put your pitchforks away, I was referring to this thread.

If you look back at the last few pages I am discussing the topic and have people responding with personal attacks, playing the man not the ball.

Anyway thats the last of this from me, future posts will be about the topic of the thread.

It would help if you stopped with the twitter-level warrior posts.

 

[Ogbert]

Amazing and transparent. They approve so they can investigate and potentially levy fines (free money!) later. EU business per usual.

All at the expense of the consumers and other competition. Fines don't prevent them from operating at what got them the fines.

That’s completely normal. All of the large technology companies, Sony, MS, Nintendo et al will have multiple outstanding investigations at any one time.

There really isn’t any conspiracy here.

 

[DeepEnigma]

That’s completely normal. All of the large technology companies, Sony, MS, Nintendo et al will have multiple outstanding investigations at any one time.

There really isn’t any conspiracy here.

Define "normal."

It should NOT be normal, that's the issue.

 

[feynoob]

Amazing and transparent. They approve so they can investigate and potentially levy fines (free money!) later. EU business per usual.

All at the expense of the consumers and other market competitors. Fines don't prevent them from continuing to operate at what got them the fines. Pushes them to scoop up for more revenue. You create the beast that needs to be fed.

If EU stops azure practices, it can slow down MS cloud ambition.
Strike the heart is EU philosophy here. Since MS depends on azure for their cloud gaming.

 

[ShaiKhulud1989]

Lol at Florian saying UK gov will overrule CMA's decision in the end. Imagine how bad this would look like - UK gov bending over for biggest US corporation.

AFAIK CMA (and UK Supreme Court) is a non-ministerial governmental department. You know, to stop that happening.

 

[GHG]

That’s completely normal. All of the large technology companies, Sony, MS, Nintendo et al will have multiple outstanding investigations at any one time.

There really isn’t any conspiracy here.

It's not normal, it's backwards.