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[DeepEnigma]

Who knew we could have pure socialism in 2023.

One could argue the top companies in the world dictating and gobbling everything up is a form of corporate socialism. Fettered capitalism is the way.

 

[TheGodfather07]

I doubt they can afford that.
How can these companies continue to be hands tied for years? They're literally losing years of strategic planning.
Activision doesn't even know what is going to happen to COD's marketing partnership after the deal with Sony expires and they can't make other deals in the process.

That's not even considering that a CMA decision can't be appealed easily. It's not even a real appeal.
They can go to CAT but if they can't prove significant procedural mistakes or irrationality or foul play involved their request won't even be considered.
And in the remote case CAT agrees the whole thing just goes back to CMA, it can take an other year of investigations to get the same ruling.
In the meantime the breakup fees will reach what? A Bethseda acquisition size?

In summer they'll also have an other ordeal with the FTC.
They should just move on and execute on a different strategy.

That's what I'm saying. This won't be reversed and Microsoft are just being prideful at this point. Just back the fuck out and start hyping your summer showcase.

 

[DeepEnigma]

If I’m in MS shoes I would honestly just pull out from the UK. The UK market is in the loss here. Just stop selling your games on the UK and let the CMA take the heat and hardcore gamers will import the games anyway. Appeal? C’mon just stop this stupid influence game as if they didn’t approve this deal after all the deals and contracts you made then they obviously wouldn’t. Seriously. Just skip the UK market.

 

[Sleepwalker]

ITT: " Please microsoft skip the UK so I can get call of duty for free in my sub "

 

[Honey Bunny]

How gross are these corpos, trying to instill fear that UK citizens are going to suffer because of this, give me a fucking break with these threats.

 

[fart town usa]

Helps if they have actual studios that can do good games.

Neo Member post of the year. Love that spicy energy.

That being said, Tango/Bethesda may cause me to buy a Series X at some point down the road.

 

[Jigsaah]

As far as MSFT goes, they really only have three options:

1. They can throw in the towel and move out of the hardware side of console gaming. With cloud being their big thing I don't think they would want to leave gaming entirely, especially not with the studios that they already have. Their existing studios could then be permanent third-party studios for other hardware and/or for cloud gaming.
2. They can continue with their acquisition spree, but focus on smaller studios/publishers. To be clear, the only thing preventing Microsoft from obtaining this acquisition was the scale. None of the regulatory bodies batted an eye when it came to Zenimax. That was a huge acquisition, and it went through with ease. Activision Blizzard made Zenimax look tiny though, and that is what caused the scrutiny.
3. The can pause their acquisitions and restructure to provide their existing publishers/studios with the necessary tools and leadership that they need to thrive, both separately and conjoined.

The third option is what I want them to go for since I am against both MSFT and SONY gobbling up third-party studios and making them exclusive to their platform. The second option is the most realistic option though. I threw out the first option as it is possible for them to go that route, but that is highly unlikely.

I truly do want Microsoft to succeed. They have IPs that I love, and they provide competition for Sony. Those are both great things. I just don't like HOW they are trying to succeed. I am also sad because I don't think they're ever going to port Lost Odyssey to PC.

Agreed.

 

[hemo memo]

Great idea, xbox already barely sells, just off their 2nd biggest market. Lol

People will buy the games for non-uk accounts and they will still sell the consoles. What are they losing physical games?

 

[FullMetalx117]

People will buy the games for non-uk accounts and they will still sell the consoles. What are they losing physical games?

Me, you, reddit, and gaf are still maybe less than 10% of the total potential market that would even bother to jump hoops to do this

 

[DeepEnigma]

People will buy the games for non-uk accounts and they will still sell the consoles. What are they losing physical games?

And the sale of the systems themselves. What will they play them on? Oh and Windows, which will usher in a Linux or iOS storm for productivity, something MS would not want. They don't need a powder keg challenging their OS monopoly. It would not be just Xbox that would have to pull out, but all of MS.

It's a juvenile and ignorant concept.

 

[jonnyp]

Yeah, but what are you gonna do when you deal with people who don't understand the field they are blocking? I am almost certain you could convince the CMA that Halo started as a TV show.

Now we have to continue to shell out for overpriced Sony hardware and super-expensive games from Sony and Nintendo.

Game Pass is the only gamer-first incentive since Valve made Steam, but now we are at the hands of people who are gonna try to squeeze every last drop out of their users. Nintendo sees its customers as super-fans who want to buy everything Nintendo, and Sony views their customers as game whales.

Not to mention all the shitty memes we now have to endure.

Deary me...

 

[Filthy Casual]

Now Microsoft can hopefully focus on using all of that money to make games... can they?

The suggestion seems to be that since Microsoft is a risk averse company that prefers to expand via merger, the usual rules don't apply to them. It will surely be too difficult for them to actually invest in new games.

 

[hemo memo]

Me, you, reddit, and gaf are still maybe less than 10% of the total potential market that would even bother to jump hoops to do this

The deal obviously was never going to be approved. It is an influence game. MS already gave many assurances. The deal was approved already in many other markets as it is really a simple decision that the CMA really make it seem complicated but it is really not.

 

[quest]

As far as MSFT goes, they really only have three options:

1. They can throw in the towel and move out of the hardware side of console gaming. With cloud being their big thing I don't think they would want to leave gaming entirely, especially not with the studios that they already have. Their existing studios could then be permanent third-party studios for other hardware and/or for cloud gaming.
2. They can continue with their acquisition spree, but focus on smaller studios/publishers. To be clear, the only thing preventing Microsoft from obtaining this acquisition was the scale. None of the regulatory bodies batted an eye when it came to Zenimax. That was a huge acquisition, and it went through with ease. Activision Blizzard made Zenimax look tiny though, and that is what caused the scrutiny.
3. The can pause their acquisitions and restructure to provide their existing publishers/studios with the necessary tools and leadership that they need to thrive, both separately and conjoined.

The third option is what I want them to go for since I am against both MSFT and SONY gobbling up third-party studios and making them exclusive to their platform. The second option is the most realistic option though. I threw out the first option as it is possible for them to go that route, but that is highly unlikely.

I truly do want Microsoft to succeed. They have IPs that I love, and they provide competition for Sony. Those are both great things. I just don't like HOW they are trying to succeed. I am also sad because I don't think they're ever going to port Lost Odyssey to PC.

There is no point in being a 3rd party there is no money in it for a company like Microsoft. Manage 10000's of employees to make maybe 500 million a year. There is a reason zenimax wanted to sell for years. Also the other studios they bought outside playground was ones in bad financial shape. I think selling off the studios to embrasser group, tencent and Saudi's is Microsoft’s best bet. Its clear the regulators are in favor of the status quo and competing on terms that favor Sony. Let them invest in other areas.

 

[Unknown?]

Who knew we could have pure socialism in 2023.

If you knew how our monetary system worked you'd know we have socialism already, for the rich and those in charge.

Also there's nothing capitalistic about a mega corporation who got big due to government intervention.

 

[graywolf323]

Astroturfing perhaps? At least some of the Xbox influencers look like they get paid by Microsoft. Visits to MS HQ, meeting with management etc. MS do have a history of astroturfing.

back in the day they even had some caught here on GAF as I recall?

 

[Mr Moose]

Why couldn't Activision just sell off studios one at a time to the highest bidder or is that too simplistic?

Why would they need to do that?

Activision Blizzard revenues jump 35% as everything clicks

Activision Blizzard suffered a setback today with the UK blocking its sale to Microsoft, but the publisher can take som…

www.gamesindustry.biz

 

[DeepEnigma]

The deal obviously was never going to be approved. It is an influence game. MS already gave many assurances. The deal was approved already in many other markets as it is really a simple decision that the CMA really make it seem complicated but it is really not.

The deal was even approved in markets that MS doesn't sell Xbox in, fancy that.

The scrutiny was always going to come down to markets where they were the strongest in, not markets they barely even exist in.

 

[Banjo64]

Yeah, but what are you gonna do when you deal with people who don't understand the field they are blocking? I am almost certain you could convince the CMA that Halo started as a TV show.

Now we have to continue to shell out for overpriced Sony hardware and super-expensive games from Sony and Nintendo.

Game Pass is the only gamer-first incentive since Valve made Steam, but now we are at the hands of people who are gonna try to squeeze every last drop out of their users. Nintendo sees its customers as super-fans who want to buy everything Nintendo, and Sony views their customers as game whales.

Not to mention all the shitty memes we now have to endure.

I read the initial full report from the CMA and I can tell you straight away with absolute certainty that they understand this market better than you do.

 

[Astray]

In summer they'll also have an other ordeal with the FTC.

The worst part of this is while the FTC lost their case against Meta/Within, they actually gained something from the judge's ruling:

During the seven-day trial in December where the FTC challenged the deal because it allegedly put Meta in prime position to monopolize VR fitness apps, the company questioned how the acquisition of one app in a developing market could harm competition. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila approved the deal in a blow to the agency’s bid to dismantle the tech giant but advanced one of its key legal theories arguing that the purchase of competitors in budding markets can hurt competition. Additionally, he agreed with the FTC that mergers between companies that don’t currently compete against each other can violate Section 7 of the Clayton Act, which bars deals “whenever the effect would substantially lessen competition and tend to create a monopoly.”

These are two surprisingly strong arrows in the FTC's bow against MSFT, and now they can incorporate the CMA's report to back them up.

Source of quote: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/b...within-ftc-challenge-legal-ruling-1235319297/

 

[Bernardougf]

The own goals rapidly mount up.

And it all could have been avoided if these guys knew how to just shut the fuck up and actually focus 100% on their job which is to put out the best product(s) possible.

Imagine trying to PR and spend your way to dominance in an industry instead of simply providing the best products possible for your customers. Oh wait, no need to imagine, they already did that before. It's in their DNA.

Think if they had hold their hand... make starfield multiplat show some fake good-faith and spread the same bullshit "more games for everyone" and them after all is done let the hammer fall on the exclusives ... cant stop thinking that their handle of bethesda and the lies or half truths they told in that process contributed for this decision

 

[ToadMan]

I think selling off the studios to embrasser group, tencent and Saudi's is Microsoft’s best bet.

Let's hope so - can we get that done before the end of this year you think?

 

[Noxxera]

Please elaborate.

Well let's put it this way. I doubt Warcraft 3 Reforged would be released in the state it was in if Blizz was under Microsoft. And yeah your counter-argument obviously is gonna be Halo Infinite. Sure it was lackluster at launch but it wasn't a buggy mess iirc as WC3 Reforged. Not to mention WC3 Reforged might not have launched at all. Maybe wishful thinking?

 

[sono]

Good

 

[jm89]

back in the day they even had some caught here on GAF as I recall?

Yup.

At the beginning of last gen there was a company that was found to be working for microsoft doing it.

Gaf mods figured it out and started dropping the ban hammer on them.

 

[FullMetalx117]

If Xbox was really confident in their management skills - they could theoretically use the 70 billion to start a couple of studios and poach talent from ATVI with fat paychecks to make a COD clone. They probably should've bought Respawn when they had the chance. I don't think Xbox is confident in their management skills

 

[TheGodfather07]

microsoft wanting to appeal the decision?

the european comission in may:

 

[StealthGoblin]

it's the stance Activision has chosen it seems

again another spicy last quote

It’s pretty hilarious. The U.K. still gets business from Microsoft and ABK either way. It’s one of the worlds largest gaming markets. Wanna test that ABK? See how much of a hit you take without releasing your games in the U.K.

Rattle out of the pram stuff.

 

[DryvBy]

Win win my ass. No day one on Gamepass, probably no xCloud, no Steam, no GeForce Now, no Switch.

Activision can do everything you said currently. They can bring it to Switch. They can bring it to Gamepass. They can bring it to Steam.

Microsoft was promising you things that they could do right now too. Why can't they bring it to Gamepass?

 

[killatopak]

I think any tech company making a big move should first lock Pachter in a dungeon before the deal goes through.

 

[sachos]

Lets hope they take that money and invest it in the studios they already own. Or just straight up build new studios.

 

[Fabieter]

Activision can do everything you said currently. They can bring it to Switch. They can bring it to Gamepass. They can bring it to Steam.

Microsoft was promising you things that they could do right now too. Why can't they bring it to Gamepass?

Cod is already on steam tho.

 

[recursive]

Well let's put it this way. I doubt Warcraft 3 Reforged would be released in the state it was in if Blizz was under Microsoft. And yeah your counter-argument obviously is gonna be Halo Infinite. Sure it was lackluster at launch but it wasn't a buggy mess iirc as WC3 Reforged. Not to mention WC3 Reforged might not have launched at all. Maybe wishful thinking?

I honestly don't see that happening but I will wait and see if some of the upcoming releases buck the trend. For example, will Starfield have the traditional massive bug list and jank that bethesda is known for.

 

[ComputerBlue]

Nah definitely not for the best, imagine how much better games blizzard would make.

Delusion.

 

[Bernardougf]

Such a great movie ...

 

[Killer8]

Time to use those tens of billions to fund some new studios organically - nah, who am I kidding, it'll be time to move onto buying up the next studio.

Even though the 20 or so they already own don't seem to actually do much...

 

[FullMetalx117]

Well let's put it this way. I doubt Warcraft 3 Reforged would be released in the state it was in if Blizz was under Microsoft. And yeah your counter-argument obviously is gonna be Halo Infinite. Sure it was lackluster at launch but it wasn't a buggy mess iirc as WC3 Reforged. Not to mention WC3 Reforged might not have launched at all. Maybe wishful thinking?

What evidence have you seen so far that Microsoft would be a better steward? The Master Chief Collection, Microsoft's flagship games, was unplayable for 3 years. Like matchmaking literally didn't work for a year. I was so excited during the midnight release too...

 

[Heisenberg007]

The deal obviously was never going to be approved. It is an influence game. MS already gave many assurances. The deal was approved already in many other markets as it is really a simple decision that the CMA really make it seem complicated but it is really not.

None of those assurances were enough or in line with what the CMA requested.

 

[sachos]

What are the chances they win the appeal?

 

[recursive]

So we should cripple Microsoft's ability to expand their games portfolio while we give Sony time to sit there and build up their cloud gaming infrastructure so Sony can have the best games, the best cloud, and the best console. While Microsoft just closes the Xbox division. Yeah, makes sense.

Punish Microsoft for already having cloud infrastructure while giving Sony a chance to get it so Microsoft can never compete/use their advantage. I see now.

Why can't Microsoft make the best games? They have been in the business for well over 2 decades, 3 if you include their pc gaming. How is this crippling Microsofts ability to create great games? Are you suggesting that they have not figured out how yet?

 

[solidus12]

Hopefully this serves as a wake up call for them.
Phil Spencer has been making empty promises for a decade. Time for him invest in his studios and get some quality games out there.

2014:

2015:

2016:

2017:

2018:

2019:

2020:

2021:

2022:

2023:

All those promises and still no game of the year candidate.

 

[Sleepwalker]

Win win my ass. No day one on Gamepass, probably no xCloud, no Steam, no GeForce Now, no Switch.

I didn't know microsoft owned all the IPs available on gamepass and xcloud.

Activision games are already on Steam.

 

[bluecowboys]

You have to look at their strongest regions. If Xbox doesn't have the UK then that severely reduces their numbers.

You just need to let Xbox know they can do better.

Microsoft is by buying Activision/Blizzard. However UK doesn’t like competition especially since Sony is a big employer in UK.

Make no mistake this isn’t about cloud. This is about protecting Sony. Literally no major cloud provider is upset at MS acquisition.

 

[Spyxos]

So is it over over? Or is there still tiny possibility that it can still happen? And this cloud reasoning sounds like someone hit it while drinking.

 

[darrylgorn]

If you knew how our monetary system worked you'd know we have socialism already, for the rich and those in charge.

Also there's nothing capitalistic about a mega corporation who got big due to government intervention.

There's nothing capitalistic about government intervention in anything.

When it actively redistributes resources, like in this case, that's socialism.

Which, as an ardent supporter of socialism, is just fine in my books.

 

[Heisenberg007]

Hopefully this serves as a wake up call for them.
Phil Spencer has been making empty promises for a decade. Time for him invest in his studios and get some quality games out there.

2014:

2015:

2016:

2017:

2018:

2019:

2020:

2021:

2022:

2023:

All this promises and still no game of the year candidate.

Papa Phil:

 

[DeepEnigma]

Microsoft is by buying Activision/Blizzard. However UK doesn’t like competition especially since Sony is a big employer in UK.

Make no mistake this isn’t about cloud. This is about protecting Sony. Literally no major cloud provider is upset at MS acquisition.

 

[Unknown?]

Hopefully this serves as a wake up call for them.
Phil Spencer has been making empty promises for a decade. Time for him invest in his studios and get some quality games out there.

2014:

2015:

2016:

2017:

2018:

2019:

2020:

2021:

2022:

2023:

All this promises and still no game of the year candidate.

I've been saying this since 2016, he's just been all about "hope" and never had anything to back it up. In 2015 he called it the best Xbox line up ever and I was like wtf! I thought it was PR but he ACTUALLY believed it.

 

[Heisenberg007]

So is it over over? Or is there still tiny possibility that it can still happen?

Theoretically, sure.

The same type of possibility that once in my lifetime, I'll have a threesome with Emilia Clarke and Alexandra Daddario.

 

[MasterCornholio]

Microsoft is by buying Activision/Blizzard. However UK doesn’t like competition especially since Sony is a big employer in UK.

Make no mistake this isn’t about cloud. This is about protecting Sony. Literally no major cloud provider is upset at MS acquisition.

Nah Sony didn't bribe the CMA with this. The UK likes competition and their consumers.

The CMA tossed Sonys argument in the trash with this one.