Warzone is Call of Duty.
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard: The FTC could approve the acquisition in August
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Bernd Lauert
Banned
How do you know that? Just curious.
Topher
Identifies as young
He said more than that. He said they were going to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation. And no, he never limited that to Warzone.
Lady Jane
Banned
Tweets aren't binding for FTC approvals. Contracts are.
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Ass of Can Whooping
Member
It wasn't a tweet. It was blog addressed to regulators
Topher
Identifies as young
"To be clear, Microsoft will continue to make Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles available on PlayStation through the term of any existing agreement with Activision. And we have committed to Sony that we will also make them available on PlayStation beyond the existing agreement and into the future so that Sony fans can continue to enjoy the games they love. We are also interested in taking similar steps to support Nintendo's successful platform. We believe this is the right thing for the industry, for gamers and for our business."
Adapting ahead of regulation: a principled approach to app stores - Microsoft On the Issues
Today we’re announcing a new set of Open App Store Principles that will apply to the Microsoft Store on Windows and to the next-generation marketplaces we will build for games, in part to address Microsoft’s growing role and responsibility as we seek regulatory approval for our acquisition of...
blogs.microsoft.com
I guess folks can claim Microsoft is flat out lying if they want.....
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Lady Jane
Banned
We will see. Regardless, tweets, blogs, emails, are not binding on this level of federal approval. Contracts and signatures are. I'm fine with people trusting Spencer or not trusting Spencer. Though in terms of "they have to follow through with their blog or the FTC will come after them" is a ridiculous take. After existing contracts expire, MS can do whatever they wish with their property. Whether they want to honor their statements that will be, at the time, years prior, is up to them.
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saturnalian
Member
Edit, wrong quote
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Topher
Identifies as young
Has nothing to do with feelings. A sizable chunk of COD revenue comes from PlayStation. Limiting platforms means reducing revenue. Corporations like more revenue, not less.
SportsFan581
Member
It would surprise me if CoD didn't remain multi plat. But, businesses adjust to changing climates and the FTC can't force much after the fact. Plus, there is some CoD fatigue as it is. Maybe some of these studios are given a chance to build a new IP with similar underpinnings but some modern twists.
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
It's not even about if the FTC will come after them or not. They've spent years building goodwill and trust and they're not about to piss all over it because of a video game. If they've gone out of their way to make clear reassurances to regulators then you can damn well bet that is their intention.
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Kenshin775
Member
It will be interesting to see if this goes through without any concessions before MW2. If that happens than MS will have the leverage to get new CoD on Game Pass Day 1 sooner.
If regulators require MS to release all the big games day and date with other platforms in the future indefinitely, then I could see Sony saying nope there is nothing to negotiate. CoD can't come day and date to Game Pass until 2025
If regulators require MS to release all the big games day and date with other platforms in the future indefinitely, then I could see Sony saying nope there is nothing to negotiate. CoD can't come day and date to Game Pass until 2025
They can't do that.
Topher
Identifies as young
Exactly. The FTC can factually revisit this deal if they see the need, but it won't ever get to that point. There is a reason why companies like Amazon, Google, and Apple have been involved in antitrust hearings while Microsoft has been excluded. After nearly being broken into parts in the 90s, Microsoft had to repair its tenuous relationship with the US government. They are not about to throw all that out the window just to satisfy some console warrior fantasies. Phil Spencer has been pretty clear so far about all of this. Bethesda games will be exclusive to platforms where Game Pass exists. COD "and other popular Activision Blizzard titles" will continue on Xbox, PS, PC, and in the future, Nintendo. I don't get why folks think Phil Spencer and Brad Smith are lying.
yurinka
Member
I think it's pretty obvious that this acquisition shouldn't have any issue with any regulator since it wouldn't mean them to have even close of having a monopoly or even being market leaders in gaming or in any gaming market.
MS will continue releasing their Minecraft, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard games in rival consoles because they want this money from rival consoles that have a big ass AAA market share, not because somebody else forces them to do so.
Regulators won't ask them to do anything and can't force them do anything like that specially when MS is not a market leader in gaming and doesn't have anything close to a monopoly.
MS will continue releasing their Minecraft, Bethesda and Activision Blizzard games in rival consoles because they want this money from rival consoles that have a big ass AAA market share, not because somebody else forces them to do so.
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I don't think you understand what the FTC is concerned about. They don't care about Call of Duty going to Game Pass. Their focus is more on big tech and the control over information and people's personal data than a FPS game being on a subscription service.
Bernd Lauert
Banned
They don't have to be lying. If only Warzone (2) stays on Playstation, that statement is still 100% truthful.
I don't think there will be anything that would definitely give Sony the ability to dictate whether COD goes on GP. I think Microsoft would just have to show good faith with their negotiations with Sony.
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Ass of Can Whooping
Member
And 100% deceitful
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
You don't understand his point
Topher
Identifies as young
Not sure what that has to do with what I said, but I'm pretty sure the FTC has multiple concerns that are addressed when they review mergers and acquisitions.
Brad Smith said "Call of Duty and other popular Activision Blizzard titles".
The Disney-Fox merger was much bigger than this in terms of how it affected entertainment and competition. It passed with no issue. Disney just had to divest their RSN networks, but the FTC didn't tell them they had to release their movies on Netflix after that deal ended. People thinking the FTC will do anything like that with Call of Duty aren't living in reality.
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
This isn't a discussion about whether the deal will pass.
FalsettoVibe
Member
This. Posters in this thread are wanting CoD exclusive on their favorite box so bad that they are looking for loopholes in corporate statements. Weird man. I don't see anyone arguing about games that ARE confirmed to become exclusive with the argument, "statement not binding" or "they can change their minds".
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The_Mike
I cry about SonyGaf from my chair in Redmond, WA
Just because he didn't, doesn't mean he wouldn't.
Topher
Identifies as young
I'd bet that deal would have been scrutinized a hell of a lot more if they tried in the current administration. Regardless, Disney had to divest in 22 regional sports networks in order for the deal to go through.
reinking
Gold Member
Part of the success for a game like CoD is accessibility. Some of you really think they are going to pull a franchise like that from its most popular console for fanboy wars? It would cripple the franchise. Unless Sony does something really dumb in the negotiations for future contracts, I have no worries about CoD games being available on future PlayStation consoles.
That was due to ESPN. Disney owns ESPN and if they owned the RSNs it WOULD have been a monopoly in televised sports.
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
It wasn't the FTC that reviewed the Disney/Fox merge anyway. It's a moot comparison
Topher
Identifies as young
And Microsoft's control of Call of Duty has the potential to substantially "lessen competition". That's why it is explicitly being referenced in this deal.
Bull shit. Sony owns Destiny. Call of Duty is just another FPS in what is arguably the most over-saturated gaming genre. If Call of Duty was the only military FPS on the market you'd have an argument there, but it's laughable with so many other games in the genre.
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
Destiny isn't the one that dominates the charts every year
Topher
Identifies as young
Bullshit? I don't think so.
NPD: The top 20 best-selling games of 2021 in the U.S.
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venturebeat.com
SteelCurtain 59
Member
This acquisition will result in some multiplat games and some exclusives. Games like COD and Diablo will remain multiplat, whereas we potentially could see something like the next Crash Bandicoot, or if Tony Hawk or some other Activision property getting revived being exclusive, but the beauty of this acquisition (from Microsoft's perspective) is the COD has such a pull, even if it still releases Day 1 on Playstation there will still be a sizable migration to Xbox to play COD.
Xbox will be featured in every COD esport, it will have exclusive marketing for COD, it will likely get better exclusive skins or features, as well as some Game Pass perks. And all of that doesn't even take into account every COD getting released on Game Pass Day 1 ( as well as all past COD's likely being added, so people switching still have access to all their COD games). Keeping COD multiplatform but making Xbox the clearly superior way to play COD will still have an enormous impact on people switching from PS to Xbox (or simply buying a Series S on the side or playing on PC Game Pass), and the people that remain solely on PS are still giving their money to Xbox. Personally I don't care about exclusives because somebody not being able to play a game doesn't benefit me at all, but this way Xbox still becomes a way more desirable product than it is now, and COD fans on Playstation who can't afford an Xbox don't get left behind.
Xbox will be featured in every COD esport, it will have exclusive marketing for COD, it will likely get better exclusive skins or features, as well as some Game Pass perks. And all of that doesn't even take into account every COD getting released on Game Pass Day 1 ( as well as all past COD's likely being added, so people switching still have access to all their COD games). Keeping COD multiplatform but making Xbox the clearly superior way to play COD will still have an enormous impact on people switching from PS to Xbox (or simply buying a Series S on the side or playing on PC Game Pass), and the people that remain solely on PS are still giving their money to Xbox. Personally I don't care about exclusives because somebody not being able to play a game doesn't benefit me at all, but this way Xbox still becomes a way more desirable product than it is now, and COD fans on Playstation who can't afford an Xbox don't get left behind.
And if CoD is exclusive to one platform that opens up more competition for another FPS game from the long list of competitors to dominate the charts. It's up to the publisher and developer if they want to compete, not government regulators forcing them to.
eastcoastkody
Member
when the Bethesda deal went thru....those gamepass games started coming immediately.
The real holiday gaming season for Xbox, could just be me getting Deathloop, Diablo III, Tony Hawk 1 & 2 remake, and a ton of CODS on gamepass
The real holiday gaming season for Xbox, could just be me getting Deathloop, Diablo III, Tony Hawk 1 & 2 remake, and a ton of CODS on gamepass
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
That mindset is how Microsoft bullied smaller companies into submission in the 90s
FalsettoVibe
Member
No. If the entire business world operated like this we'd all be screwed. There a reason why laws and government intervention exist when it comes to mergers and acquisitions.
Then explain why the government didn't require Disney to release Fox's movies on Netflix and other services after they merged.
Because the government cannot do that.
Topher
Identifies as young
Explain why Microsoft is telling the FTC that they will continue to release COD on PlayStation.
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Because games like Warzone and Overwatch 2 will always be multi-plat. Virtually ALL of COD's MTX sales comes from Warzone.
Topher
Identifies as young
That doesn't answer my question at all.
Lognor
Banned
I don't think you can say this for certain. Sure, that's the way it looks, but Microsoft's wording leaves it open to interpretation. We can say for sure that Xbox players will get the best COD experience. I expect a lot of COD players to move back to Xbox after so many moved to PS4 when Sony locked down exclusive content. Hopefully we don't see a return of that, but probably first access to betas, etc.
And I'm not sure about Switch. LOL. Activision had years to put any COD game on Switch and they didn't. Why would they do that now under new ownership?
Lognor
Banned
And they will. Warzone IS COD. They will continue to release A COD game on PS. They didn't say ALL as far as I know. So the way Microsoft worded it, it could go either way. At this point I expect all COD games to release as they do today, but it's not for certain. I'm just glad I don't have to worry about it. And with that uncertainty I think a lot more people are going to move to Xbox.
Ass of Can Whooping
Member
He loves to flipflop around everything
Meanwhile he's 100% convinced new Bungie IPs are going to Xbox. Even if the wording is weaker than Microsofts
Ah I get it, Bungie's games are going to be exclusive to the platform that owns them, but Activision's IPs won't be.
You guys better let Bungie know about that though.
Bungie.net
Q. Bungie has future games in development, will they now become PlayStation exclusives?
No. We want the worlds we are creating to extend to anywhere people play games. We will continue to be self-published, creatively independent, and we will continue to drive one, unified Bungie community.
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Bernd Lauert
Banned
Yeah, but I'm only talking about Call of Duty. Some people here interpret the statement as "MS guarantees that every single CoD will also be on Playstation, forever", which is super reaching tbh. The statement is also true if only Warzone is on Playstation and no other CoD ever.
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