Microsoft / Activision Deal Approval Watch |OT| (MS/ABK close)
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Solidus_T
Banned
It also makes it obvious that there's been a paid-for narrative from video game 'journalists' who never mention when Nintendo gets deals with games, sometimes from the exact series Sony got like with Persona vs SMT.
Topher
Identifies as young
Astray
Member
Normally I try to steer clear of conspiracies.
But honestly, it's very hard to take anything MS says or does at face value now, not after a known shill was found out to be trolling gaming forums on their behalf.
What used to sound crazy a few months ago is not so crazy now.
Gaelyon
Member
"But when we have a game on Sony's console they take 30% to put us out of business":format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24754085/BCLJI9I.png)
Jigsaah
Gold Member
I mean to be fair, Xbox did this during the 360 era. Though this is not Phil's era. There was no court case at the time to put all this into the spot light but I mean look what happened with Tomb Raider. First one was multiplat, then Microsoft bought exclusiveity for a year for the second one. This was definitely in Phil's era. I'm sure there are other examples. One might even try to say that getting games on Gamepass when Sony did not have a competing service could be seen as similar practice. I mean who's gonna buy Outriders for $60+ when you could subscribe to gamepass for it?
Even Sunset Overdrive was Microsoft dipping it's hands in Sony's 2nd party cookie jar. Then Sony bough Insomniac. Same thing happened with Bethesda, though obviously for a much higher price and transferring MULTIPLE IPS to the Xbox wheelhouse.
They blame sony for third party deals but back in 2015 Phil said they wasn't going after third party anymore and focusing on first party. Even after they hadn't really put out anything worth wild first party. As far as new ip goes. Some how u decided not to bid on third party and your first party is weak and its someone fault but you've been in business for 20 something years.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Don't worry. They're standing by for new PR narrative orders.
93xfan
Banned
I thought Phil was incompetent and everyone could see through him. Now he's "the grandmaster of PR"?
The narrative around here…
Astray
Member
If they spent as much effort on making games as much as they did on trying to wrangle the internet's opinions on them, they would be in a considerably better position.
FlyyGOD
Member
I'm in lovelulu keeping a close eye on playstation exclusives
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
Microsoft can't try to kill two competitors at the same time, that would raise too many eyebrows.
But yeah, these emails are very damaging to the refutations they have tried putting out to damage control the intent behind these acquisitions. This is classic '90s anticompetitive Microsoft alive and well in the 21st century. They want to do the same thing to Sony that they did to competitors in the past like Netscape and the creators of the ZIP compression format.
I sit here now looking back at my development of viewing this deal. When it was first announced I thought it was a big move and was okay with it, but that's because I thought about it from a gamer's perspective of what exclusives it could bring to Xbox and what dormant IP could come back. That was the extent of my thought at the time. Even if cracks in that immediately started manifesting, I don't think we saw "this" current side of Microsoft come out yet back in January/February 2022 publicly, so whatever.
In hindsight the Sega x Azure partnership should've been a big clue that this was not really about making Xbox better for Microsoft, because I thought they were going to maybe pursue development on some new console exclusives like in the OG Xbox days. I did notice how they were leveraging Azure to net trickle-down benefits for the lesser Xbox division, though. Then Xbox itself just went through a horrible next few months of no content, and I think it was "certain people" weaponizing Elden Ring to attack HFW that actually made me take a step back and wonder why things were getting so toxic from the hardcore Xbox side. Then I played HFW myself and was incredibly impressed, and wondered where were Microsoft's 1P at equivalent levels? Why did Halo Infinite basically die in three months? Where were the continued big Day 1 Game Pass 3P deals? Why were they (MS) boasting about sales numbers but not providing actual sales data?
It's been a lot of "little things" adding up souring my impressions of Microsoft over time, but noticing the increase in shilling/influencer/media bias for them (to the point of making up insane FUD about PlayStation) and then Microsoft's increasingly distasteful tactics, half-truths, and outright lies against competitors (mainly Sony) to get approval for the ABK deal have really accelerated my disdain for them as a platform holder. Mounting evidence confirming many suspicions regarding the backside of the business, and the real intentions behind their gaming acquisitions strategy coming out (particularly regarding publishers) alongside that old anticompetitive spirit very much alive and well at the upper corporate sides, have more or less turned me completely off the brand.
If I were at say a 95/100 with them back January last year, at this very moment it's at a 5/100. That's how low my respect for Microsoft as a platform is today, and they have such a tall mountain to climb to begin regaining that respect I doubt they could ever do it. The worst part about it being a relatively good console in the Xbox is caught up in the shenanigans of, by far, the worst platform holder in the history of gaming.
Good points. Phil didn't maybe originate the concept and strategy, but he's definitely carrying it forward and bolder than MS ever did in the 360 era. On some level things they did to gain market share in 360 era were acceptable because Sony themselves screwed up massively out of the gate and had genuine issues they were solely responsible for, that they had to fix. And they did, especially around 2009, but that was still a couple years where Microsoft could easily reap from Sony's mistakes and they did.
That's not what is happening today. By all accounts, Sony have done everything they needed to make PS5 a success, and there are no glaring weaknesses in their strategy (I could say they are overzealous with the live-service push and could scale back the PC support to just live-service/GaaS titles, plus do more AA-style games with legacy IP, but that's about it). They read the market correctly for both majority of gamers and the 3P dev/pub communities, that's why PS5 has been doing so well. Microsoft want to undermine market success through merit by simply drowning out better-performing competitors with cash not earned through the merits of their own gaming initiatives.
Now even that isn't inherently a bad thing to do, but there are levels to it, and MS are taking the extreme option. We know they are because they have expressed, multiple times now, that they want to kill PlayStation and put them out of business altogether. Their 3P publisher acquisition strategy is a large part of that, they are trying to target 3P that Sony have strong working relationships with and cut Sony completely off from engaging in independent business deals with those 3P, as MS would control that 3P through ownership, control their software supply, distribution, leveraging power, marketing, technology IP, even employees and staff (the ones who don't leave, anyway).
It's definitely well beyond just wanting to make Xbox a more attractive platform for gamers, otherwise MS would be doubling down on stuff their systems have strong history with and bringing those back, or expanding on them. We wouldn't have gotten Game Pass deals for Persona & Yakuza games Day 1; instead we'd of gotten sequels to Outrun 2, GunValkyrie and Panzer Dragoon Orta. We'd of seen Microsoft get a KOTOR Remake going, not Sony. We'd of seen Crimson Skies come back in some major way, we'd of seen at least remakes for the first three Gears of War games and/or Banjo-Kazooie. We'd of seen maybe a new Conker, too, or at least reveals for a lot of these things. Instead they are targeting many things that are specific to Sony's systems and ecosystems and trying to remove them either altogether or at least remove the conditions where Sony can independently work with those devs/pubs and their content.
The one thing I might disagree with you on, actually, though, is Bethesda. I know they have a lot of history with PlayStation, but I'd argue they have more with Microsoft, going back to the DOS days on PC. They also gave the OG Xbox an exclusive TES game in the past (when the IP was way smaller in popularity, mind) and first release for Oblivion. So them acquiring Zenimax, I think that made sense from both a business and 'honoring of legacy' POV. Though, even there, they are taking games off PlayStation that even MS themselves said would have conditions to still be multiplat on PlayStation (Starfield, TES VI, Indiana Jones).
FlyyGOD
Member
I wish we could see sonys but the block the courts to do so.
Gameplay Gods Bless
Member
Can't renegotiate if they close. MS already told the FTC they were looking to close, before you close you have to let the FTC know. That's why the FTC immediately filed for the temporary order and the PI. The FTC does not want MS to close hence why we are having this expedited trial. If the FTC believed MS could not close because the CMA blocked them then they wouldn't seek a PI because seeking a PI at this point in the game is very risky for the FTC.
DeepEnigma
Gold Member
Sony's were about trade secrets and sensitive financials. Those very same emails were blocked for MS as well when their chief financials person spoke.
Topher
Identifies as young
Everything you said is fiction. MS never said anything about closing on the deal. Never. Whatever Xbox podcast you are listening to that is telling you to believe this shit is wrong.
Gameplay Gods Bless
Member
The FTC filed for the temporary order to stop MS from closing. You only file those when the merging parties are looking to close. The reason for this is because the only purpose of the temporary order and the preliminary injunction is to stop an acquisition from closing. That is what they are for, the FTC filed them on such short notice to stop MS after MS communicated their intent to close. Had the FTC not filed for the TRO, MS would have legally been able to close on June 15th as that is when the merger cool down period expired. The only fiction here is your knowledge of US law.
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Topher
Identifies as young
Rewind a bit from all that bulshit and show me the part where Microsoft made actual comments on closing on the deal. You said explicitly that they said as much. Prove it.
I mean.....you are the legal expert of US law. Right? I'm trying to contain my hero worship.
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adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Gameplay Gods Bless
Member
Those comments were made to the FTC not to you.
Solidus_T
Banned
I used to think like that too until there was the big hang up over crossplay when Microsoft had denied Sony's offer for crossplay years earlier with Rocket League. I understood both Sony's and MS' reasoning for blocking crossplay for multiplayer games, but as soon as MS made themselves out to be victims, it was hard to believe their complaining was in good faith.
Corrik
Member
You are absolutely correct. I am not going to bet a Sony fanboy on some stupid terms that make no sense.
Its like someone saying Kansas City will win the superbowl and Mahomes will be the MVP and you saying I'll bet you 1k straight up that doesn't happen.
Only a moron would take that bet that the value of the bet winning is worth way more than straight up.
Your grasp of betting is as poor as your grasp on this merger. Sad.
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bitbydeath
Member
Nah, that was just a rumour.
demigod
Member
It was you that stated it, not me. You don't even believe the shit you spew, hilarious. Looks like ms won't close on July 15 now!
It's ok, we know you are scared.
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Bernardougf
Member
Topher
Identifies as young
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
Hopefully we can actually hear Jim Ryan's part this time, and hopefully none of the others are sealed testimony.
dibella360
Banned
Looks like another email shows Xbox acquired Ninja Theory for $117 Million
www.ign.com
Xbox Acquired Hellblade Developer Ninja Theory for $117 Million - IGN
According to FTC filings, Microsoft acquired Ninja Theory for $117 million.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Well, the cat is out of the bag:
- Xbox wanted to "spend Sony out of business" so they could have the complete control and monopoly on high-end console gaming.
- Xbox was targeting to buy 100s of developers. "We bought Starfield because of potential timed exclusivity" was just bullshit because if that were true, what was their reasoning to buy other studios, like HouseMarque and Ember Lab that hasn't even produced an Xbox game?
- TES6 is exclusive when Phil Spencer kept lying that platforms haven't been decided yet.
bender
What time is it?
gimmmick
Member
Ummm... is this deal going to close or can the FTC still put a stop to this? This is pretty damming for Microsoft.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
FTC may succumb to the corruption and lobbying in the USA (the judge may still rule in favor of Microsoft; her son was also recently employed by Microsoft).
But the good news is that the CMA has already blocked it. So hopefully, and most likely, the deal will fail on July 18.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
So the industry consolidation is because of Sony. "Influencers" lol.
By this logic, Sony should acquire all studios and publishers that Microsoft ever got a timed exclusive from, and that consolidation will be Microsoft's fault?
By this logic, Sony should acquire all studios and publishers that Microsoft ever got a timed exclusive from, and that consolidation will be Microsoft's fault?
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
The emails that are coming out today are from the FTC hearings day 1 and 2, they know about all of this already and presented it in the trials.
roosnam1980
Member
what is the I.Q level of matt booty any way
and how damaging is that email for MS?
and how damaging is that email for MS?
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Is that not a fact?The emails that are coming out today are from the FTC hearings day 1 and 2, they know about all of this already and presented it in the trials.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
Yes, a publicly disclosed and uncontested one.
If the ruling goes in MS's favor for this trial, do you think it will be because of that ?
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
So it is a fact. No point in "face palming" as I said something factually incorrect then.
Partially, yes. That's how influence works.
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
My guy .. don't .. you know why you wrote that.
to think that some eagle eye folks in this topic have already deemed it a damning conflict of interest, but the actual FTC lawyers in the field have not raised any objections to it.
hence the
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roosnam1980
Member
jim reading about that leaked email , like a samurai he must deliver the fatal strike now thus killing microsoft , as foretold by lord ken kutaragi
Ar¢tos
Member
Didn't New Zealand block it?
adamsapple
Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
No.
James Sawyer Ford
Banned
So the industry consolidation is because of Sony. "Influencers" lol.
By this logic, Sony should acquire all studios and publishers that Microsoft ever got a timed exclusive from, and that consolidation will be Microsoft's fault?
Microsoft was going to try and buy the industry regardless of timed exclusive deals Sony made lol
This is just an excuse, and a poor one at that, at trying to create a false equivalency in behavior.
Kiraly
Member
Beep boop trialing the script.
Ar¢tos
Member
Just googled, they haven't issued a final decision, but it doesn't look good for MS based on the preliminary report.
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