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[itsjustJEFF]

It's a game of chicken at this point. If the CMA doesn't back down and Microsoft exits from the UK. It's going to set a precedent that's going to have long lasting impacts to the UK and it's citizens.

It's like two ppl sitting across of each other just staring... waiting for the other to blink. I don't know if Microsoft can exit the UK or will... not over this. We have to remember that Xbox is a small portion of Microsoft. Microsoft does a lot more business in the UK than just video games. If they are willing to exit the UK over this deal with one of it's smaller divisions it certainly will set a precedent, a good one? IDK, I just know that if they do then Microsoft is willing to amputate an arm because it's thumb was infected.

 

[Ogbert]

The CMA already dropped the console SLC component prior to the final decision on April 26th, so why are you mentioning Sony and Nintendo here when that's not the issue being cited by the CMA, but rather protecting the nascent cloud gaming market from being monopolized by Microsoft in the future?

Oh, only as potential cloud competitors. Probably should have said Nvidia. I’m not sure who the main cloud providers are.

 

[Thirty7ven]

It’s certainly a unique scenario. I’ve not known a regulatory investigation to have such public interest.

I have to say, the CMA position always has, and continues to, surprise me. I simply do not understand why they are so invested in the cloud point. And that’s not really anything to do with MS or Sony, rather why a UK regulatory body is being so aggressive.

It’s very unusual for a regulatory body to be so defensive of a nascent market. It’s far easier to let the big fellas have at it and then fine the winner. This approach often works out for the consumer. Economies of scale allow Amazon to undercut the hell out of everyone. Where the outrage for Amazon delivering us everything? Consumers love a monopoly when it makes things cheaper.

So CMA appear to be taking a strict competition approach and protecting other businesses (principally Sony and Nintendo) as opposed to consumers. Which is why I would expect the licensing arrangement to be sufficient.

It may well be that MS behaved like total and utter bellends and irritated everyone at the CMA. Would explain the speed and directness of the CMA’s response.

Make no mistake though, this does put some pressure on the CMA. Nothing huge and it doesn’t mean they will change their position, but eyebrows will be raised.

Because the strategy fails again and again. Both the FTC and now the CMA are clearly trying hard to create precedence. Because tech keeps moving faster and faster, and with A.I it will enter into warp speed. If these regulators can’t lay the groundwork to get a grip of things, it’s over welcome to megacoep dystopia Weyland when

 

[Alesimage]

It's a game of chicken at this point. If the CMA doesn't back down and Microsoft exits from the UK. It's going to set a precedent that's going to have long lasting impacts to the UK and it's citizens. The CMA is going to look pretty foolish.

I know M$ has a healthy console market in the UK (#2 for XBOX I believe) but I'm sure Microsoft has already done the math and at the end of the day that's pretty meaningless.

They also have to be worried about other tech giants, leaders, startups closely watching this deal. I would not be surprised if tech investments are already being shelved or reworked to exclude the uk. Brexit has already done so much damage already.

 

[wolffy66]

TEveryone’s saying MS will pull out of the UK but couldn’t they just not put COD on gamepass/xcloud out there? Why is everyone going straight to pulling the entirety of Xbox out of the UK instead of just 1 game in the cloud. Is something preventing that which I’m missing or?

That's basically what they will do. They will just continue as two companies inside the UK imo.

They have to get past the FTC before that tho

 

[Begleiter]

It's like two ppl sitting across of each other just staring... waiting for the other to blink. I don't know if Microsoft can exit the UK or will... not over this. We have to remember that Xbox is a small portion of Microsoft. Microsoft does a lot more business in the UK than just video games. If they are willing to exit the UK over this deal with one of it's smaller divisions it certainly will set a precedent, a good one? IDK, I just know that if they do then Microsoft is willing to amputate an arm because it's thumb was infected.

Microsoft will not pull out of the UK and breach who knows how many contracts, lose an enormous amount of business, invite a host of lawsuits and place a NATO member's cybersecurity in question at a time when Russia is expanding in Europe. The entire idea is asinine.

They're pinning their hopes on the appeal and making noise to try to bring political pressure to bear. If the appeal doesn't pan out the deal is over. If ABK decide they don't want to wait on the appeal, the deal is over. There is no scenario where the appeal fails and they can carry on regardless.

Edit: spelling

 

[PaintTinJr]

That is an interim provision which reminds MS and ABK that they can’t be cute and have the purchased entity pretend to buy the purchaser.

The scenario I am talking about (which you will note I said ‘could take years’) is where they set up a wholly new UK subsidiary that offers MS’ services on unique, UK domestic terms.

It’s unlikely, but entirely possible.

Seriously, stop being such a fanboy. A couple of lawyers at a domestic regulator do not get to determine the entire international strategy of MS, or Sony, or Amazon or anyone outside their borders.

Unless they are prepared to give up all their copyrights, trademarks and patents in the UK, and withdraw fully, and have the government release the proprietary source code as open source for all Microsoft's software they use in the UK - which would lose copyright status too - there is no way around the CMA decision.

In all major company stories/histories there is always a moment in which they write their own end, and so few major companies - excluding car manufacturers - last more than fifty years so will be amazing if Microsoft write their own end in an agrressive attempt to buy CoD/ATVI.

 

[DeepEnigma]

They also have to be worried about other tech giants, leaders, startups closely watching this deal. I would not be surprised if tech investments are already being shelved or reworked to exclude the uk. Brexit has already done so much damage already.

There is no damage to the 6th largest GDP. EU is miffed they lost the 4th largest in their grift, and the only damage was done with their globalist wallets.

Global trade outlook - February 2023 (HTML executive summary)

www.gov.uk

The UK was the sixth largest economy in the world in 2021 and is projected to remain in that position out to 2050.

 

[Elios83]

It's a game of chicken at this point. If the CMA doesn't back down and Microsoft exits from the UK. It's going to set a precedent that's going to have long lasting impacts to the UK and it's citizens. The CMA is going to look pretty foolish.

I know M$ has a healthy console market in the UK (#2 for XBOX I believe) but I'm sure Microsoft has already done the math and at the end of the day that's pretty meaningless.

They also have to be worried about other tech giants, leaders, startups closely watching this deal. I would not be surprised if tech investments are already being shelved or reworked to exclude the uk. Brexit has already done so much damage already.

Seriously what's up with these accounts with just a bunch of posts in years suddenly being activated by certain discussions, always in defense of MS and shouting total nonsense like Microsoft leaving UK??

 

[itsjustJEFF]

Microsoft will not pull out of the UK and breach who knows how many contracts, lose an enormous amount of business, invite a host of lawsuits and place a NATO member's cybersecurity in question at a time when Russia is expanding in Europe. The entire idea is asinine.

They're pinning their hopes on the appeal and making noise to try to bring political pressure to bear. If the appeal doesn't pan out the deal is over. If ABK decide they don't want to wait on the appeal, the deal is over. There is no scenario where the appeal fails and they can carry on regardless.

Edit: spelling

There is a portion of the "internet" who actually believe this is what they should do... I don't think ppl are using the rational parts of their brains or considering anything you just stated, they're just thinking about what game can I get for free.

Do you really think it's a GOOD IDEA for Microsoft to completely pull out of a country because of video games?

 

[Three]

It isn't saying that at all. It specifically says if they have a license, then the game can be streamed via ANY streaming service that operates in the EU. There is nothing in the EC's remedy that says that the type of license and the type of streaming service must match. That's why I'm telling you that what you're saying might have been their intention, but that's not what they said.

You're right and I agree that they could have made it far clearer.

"A free license to consumers in the EEA that would allow them to stream, via any cloud game streaming services of their choice, all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and console games for which they have a license"

Should be interpreted as "a free licence to end users that doesn't prohibit them to stream via any cloud game streaming service, all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and console games for which they have that license".

It's different if you think about it in terms of what the (EULA) license is and that it just spells out what it prohibits/allows. This doesn't necessarily mean that game would be available on all streaming services or what the service provider can prohibit or not support. It means the streaming services and end user are allowed to do this within the game's license for free. Not all of them would want this based on their business model.

 

[harry mason 1989]

Some post's in this page man
I always thought souls fans and Nintendo fans are the most insane fanbase ever but I have to apologize to them
The green's are the most insane now
I hope this stupid deal will be dead by July

 

[DeepEnigma]

Seriously what's up with these accounts with just a bunch of posts in years suddenly being activated by certain discussions, always in defense of MS and shouting total nonsense like Microsoft leaving UK??

Astroturf go brrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[Alesimage]

Seriously what's up with these accounts with just a bunch of posts in years suddenly being activated by certain discussions, always in defense of MS and shouting total nonsense like Microsoft leaving UK??

Do you have a conspiratorial persecution complex? Why can't I discuss the deal. Are you mad my views goes against yours.

 

[Astray]

Do you have a conspiratorial persecution complex? Why can't I discuss the deal. Are you mad my views goes against yours.

Lmao you couldn't come across as more of an astroturfer if you tried.

EDIT: lmfao did he delete the post or did the mods yeet his ass?

 

[ToadMan]

Conspiracy theory time
Sometimes I feel like the cma ftc and EC are all working together secretly to kill this deal

There’s no secrecy or conspiracy required - the CMA charter includes the requirement to consult and collaborate on mutli-jurisdiction mergers and acquisitions. It’s there, in public - nothing is hidden.

I would imagine the EU knew the CMA decision before the rest of us and indeed the CMA knew of this EU decision before it was public.

 

[SmurfMustard]

Also, none of them can even be arsed to add a profile picture - it’s almost as if they’re not actually here to make organic contributions due to a love of video games.

We ALL know what organic contribution you're obsessed with.

 

[C2brixx]

There is a portion of the "internet" who actually believe this is what they should do... I don't think ppl are using the rational parts of their brains or considering anything you just stated, they're just thinking about what game can I get for free.

Do you really think it's a GOOD IDEA for Microsoft to completely pull out of a country because of video games?

I think the idea that Microsoft would have to pull all of there business out of the UK over video games is silly. Microsoft have been doing business with the UK government and military longer than some of the folks on CMA have been alive. At some point the adults in the UK government are going to step in and restore some order.

 

[Elios83]

Lmao you couldn't come across as more of an astroturfer if you tried.

EDIT: lmfao did he delete the post or did the mods yeet his ass?

Post probably deleted by mods.
But yeah these people with dormant accounts that have no interest in posting here except in certain circumstances, always in defense of a certain company are either astroturfers or alts or trolls out of the cave and they are becoming an obvious trend...

Edit: suspect confirmed by the ban page...

 

[Astray]

Post probably deleted by mods.
But yeah these people with dormant accounts that have no interest in posting here except in certain circumstances, always in defense of a certain company are either astroturfers or alts or trolls out of the cave and they are becoming an obvious trend...

The way he went "u must be mad" genuinely felt like it was coming from a manual.

There are genuine Xbox fans here and no matter how much you disagree with them, they come across like they're actual people, not this guy tho, he was an astroturfer all the way.

 

[Ogbert]

Unless they are prepared to give up all their copyrights, trademarks and patents in the UK, and withdraw fully, and have the government release the proprietary source code as open source for all Microsoft's software they use in the UK - which would lose copyright status too - there is no way around the CMA decision.

In all major company stories/histories there is always a moment in which they write their own end, and so few major companies - excluding car manufacturers - last more than fifty years so will be amazing if Microsoft write their own end in an agrressive attempt to buy CoD/ATVI.

Of course. Hence why I said it would take years and, moreover, why the assumption would be that MS would choose not to do it.

It would cost tens, if not hundreds of millions and, as you say, involve ridiculous complexity around their software and licensing copyright. But they could do it, even if it was foolish.

To be honest, it was more me objecting to the continuous snarky shitposting and having people say ‘learn to read’ over totally and utterly irrelevant articles.

 

[azertydu91]

Seriously what's up with these accounts with just a bunch of posts in years suddenly being activated by certain discussions, always in defense of MS and shouting total nonsense like Microsoft leaving UK??

Considering the recent ban maybe you should get the gaf detective tag?

 

[Thief1987]

Imagine create an alt just to simp for a corporation

 

[Ronin_7]

Seriously what's up with these accounts with just a bunch of posts in years suddenly being activated by certain discussions, always in defense of MS and shouting total nonsense like Microsoft leaving UK??

Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I think the idea that Microsoft would have to pull all of there business out of the UK over video games is silly. Microsoft have been doing business with the UK government and military longer than some of the folks on CMA have been alive. At some point the adults in the UK government are going to step in and restore some order.

So a corporation should have free reign to gobble everything up because they have deals with the government? And these fully independent non-governmental regulators set up for checks and balances can be slapped down by said government?

That goes against the very thesis of national security, consumer rights, and government checks and balances with business and government being too close in bed with one another. That is a corporatocracy. That is corruption 101.

 

[Topher]

They also have to be worried about other tech giants, leaders, startups closely watching this deal. I would not be surprised if tech investments are already being shelved or reworked to exclude the uk. Brexit has already done so much damage already.

Two for one warrior ban day!

 

[Topher]

I think the idea that Microsoft would have to pull all of there business out of the UK over video games is silly.

You are right. That's why Microsoft is not going to pull out of the UK........over video gaems.

 

[PropellerEar]

Lmao you couldn't come across as more of an astroturfer if you tried.

EDIT: lmfao did he delete the post or did the mods yeet his ass?

Banned.

 

[IFireflyl]

You're right and I agree that they could have made it far clearer.

"A free license to consumers in the EEA that would allow them to stream, via any cloud game streaming services of their choice, all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and console games for which they have a license"

Should be interpreted as "a free licence to end users that doesn't prohibit them to stream via any cloud game streaming service, all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and console games for which they have that license".

It's different if you think about it in terms of what the (EULA) license is and that it just spells out what it prohibits/allows. This doesn't necessarily mean that game would be available on all streaming services or what the service provider can prohibit or not support. It means the streaming services and end user are allowed to do this within the game's license. Not all of them would want this based on their business model.

Intent does not matter when it comes to legally binding contracts and agreements. What was written and what was likely the intention are not the same thing. This is my entire point. The way that the EC worded this remedy, an EU consumer can purchase Call of Duty on their Xbox Series X, and then demand that they be allowed to Stream the game for free on their PlayStation 5 via PS Now. If Microsoft doesn't accommodate this, then based on the written EC remedy, the EU consumer could sue Microsoft for violating their acquisition agreement and causing them monetary harm (forcing them to pay for a game they already purchased).

I'm not arguing what the intent is. I'm arguing that this was a poorly worded remedy that could be used to royally screw over Microsoft.

 

[LordCBH]

Let’s be perfectly clear:

Anyone suggesting Microsoft will exit the UK is a fool. Microsoft will bluster and float the threat, but they won’t do it. The threat exists solely to pressure the powers that be. It’s 100% a bluff.

 

[DeepEnigma]

You are right. That's why Microsoft is not going to pull out of the UK........over video gaems.

Let’s be perfectly clear:

Anyone suggesting Microsoft will exit the UK is a fool. Microsoft will bluster and float the threat, but they won’t do it. The threat exists solely to pressure the powers that be. It’s 100% a bluff.

I don't get the cognitive dissonance and mental gymnastics around this. Some take video games way too seriously and important. It's not even a sliver on the ass for MS's overall revenue. MS would drop Xbox long before they would pull out of the 6th largest GDP in the world.

 

[PropellerEar]

Two for one warrior ban day!

HundredThousandTrillion right now...

 

[Begleiter]

I think the idea that Microsoft would have to pull all of there business out of the UK over video games is silly. Microsoft have been doing business with the UK government and military longer than some of the folks on CMA have been alive. At some point the adults in the UK government are going to step in and restore some order.

What adults and what disorder? The Tory government is one foot in the grave so can't be seen to be that obviously corrupt, and in a week's time this will be forgotten by the UK general public.

 

[Sleepwalker]

And people will say with a straight face that things like astroturfing, the script and the playbook don't exist. lol.

 

[MasterCornholio]

Do you have a conspiratorial persecution complex? Why can't I discuss the deal. Are you mad my views goes against yours.

Jimmyisbanned

And you had this alt since December of last year.

You knew what was going to happen ahead of time.

For shame.

 

[LordCBH]

I don't get the cognitive dissonance and mental gymnastics around this. Some take video games way too seriously and important. It's not even a sliver on the ass for MS's overall revenue. MS would drop Xbox long before they would pull out of the 6th largest GDP in the world.

And let’s humor them and say they do it. Pretty much all the Microsoft C-suite of executives would be out on their asses within a month.

 

[DeepEnigma]

And let’s humor them and say they do it. Pretty much all the Microsoft C-suite of executives would be out on their asses within a month.

Patent portfolios go brrrrrrr

 

[Solidus_T]

Imagine create an alt just to simp for a corporation

Emphasized. Very normal behavior! (considering potential paychecks incurred for said normal behavior)

Some post's in this page man
I always thought souls fans and Nintendo fans are the most insane fanbase ever but I have to apologize to them
The green's are the most insane now
I hope this stupid deal will be dead by July

I'm just internally making guesses for what page we will reach when it is finally done and dead. This thread has helped me through work!

 

[jm89]

Let’s be perfectly clear:

Anyone suggesting Microsoft will exit the UK is a fool. Microsoft will bluster and float the threat, but they won’t do it. The threat exists solely to pressure the powers that be. It’s 100% a bluff.

The sad thing is they only pressured some useless overpaid backbencher.

 

[DeepEnigma]

The sad thing is they only pressured some useless overpaid backbencher.

Shows their confidence not to splurge for the big dogs. Unless it was just testing the waters.

 

[adamsapple]

The consumers are the ones who have chosen.

More PS4s sold thus MS should not be allowed to make acquisition is a terrible take/argument.

 

[MasterCornholio]

What's crazy is that he posted today with his main account.

Series X is available on amazon without invite.

 

[feynoob]

I will leave this here

 

[DeepEnigma]

More PS4s sold thus MS should not be allowed to make acquisition is a terrible take/argument.

Nah. The market has chosen, so MS should not be allowed to reshape and gobble up the industry against consumer's choice with money on the backs of the WinOS/productivity monopoly.

 

[graywolf323]

Also, none of them can even be arsed to add a profile picture - it’s almost as if they’re not actually here to make organic contributions due to a love of video games.

more like they know these accounts are throwaways, they’ve just been around long enough to not be juniors anymore

given we’ve already seen two bans for astroturfing with alts this morning I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a LOT more accounts that fit that here and oddly they always seem to be pro-Xbox

 

[adamsapple]

Nah. The market has chosen, so MS should not be allowed to reshape the industry against consumer's choice with money on the backs of the WinOS/productivity monopoly.

"reshape" and "against consumer choice" are some pretty charged words here. The only thing they've reshaped about cloud so far is not crashing it to the ground like other entrants in that specific sect of the market.

 

[FritzJ92]

This is referring to services like nvidia now or boosteriod who retain the right to a license to stream (ie xbox cannot limit streaming of ABK games in their EULA on their ecosystem or any ecosystem).

Nvidia and Boosteriod still become MS customers to the xbox/gamepass ecosystem and use Windows servers too though. The likes of PS+ and Amazon would be unlikely to want to adopt this business model though because they are foremost content providers and not a hardware rental service. For the reasons I gave in my previous posts it doesn't work for them to lose mtx and premium game sales margin through this and it would only increase their cloud service costs further.

Isn't the caveat to this is that consumers can now explore other streaming providers while accessing the same game they are familiar with? This is almost like granting people an opportunity to try out your service. People that probably would have never considered it in the first place.

Now I want to try GeForce streaming with the 4090 subscription tier on my favorite COD game to see what that experience is like. I do think the licensing thing is pretty weird, and I feel like MS is losing as much as the subscription services are losing in terms of customer experience. However, I think it does not hinder competition and that was the big worry of the CMA.

 

[DeepEnigma]

"reshape" and "against consumer choice" are some pretty charged words here. The only thing they've reshaped about cloud is not crashing it to the ground like other entrants in that specific sect of the market.

Not at all. MS had 20+ years to do better. Ask them to do better adamsapple , Not gobble up the industry and make their competition, that consumers have chosen, smaller all because they are failing internally. That mismanagement alone should scare any fans of ABK games and regulators.

That's the problem with the most ardent teet hangers, they never hold their beloved brands/teams/etc accountable.

 

[LordCBH]

Not at all. MS had 20+ years to do better. Ask them to do better adamsapple , Not gobble up the industry and make their competition, that consumers have chosen, smaller all because they are failing internally. That mismanagement alone should scare any fans of ABK games and regulators.

That's the problem with the most ardent teet hangers, they never hold their beloved brands/teams/etc accountable.

100%. And it’s very stupid to use “but the consumers” as a pro to acquisitions when the acquisitions are for studios who already put most of not all their games on Xbox. Microsoft loses nothing by being shot down here, but the consumer stands to lose a lot of the deal gets rammed through.

 

[MasterCornholio]

Not at all. MS had 20+ years to do better. Ask them to do better adamsapple , Not gobble up the industry and make their competition, that consumers have chosen, smaller all because they are failing internally. That mismanagement alone should scare any fans of ABK games and regulators.

That's the problem with the most ardent teet hangers, they never hold their beloved brands/teams/etc accountable.

Microsoft has more studios than Sony.

They should be able to do better.