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[GHG]

I don't Microsoft needs helping funding anything.

Oh don't worry, everyone is well aware.

However nobody wants to ever have to writedown and acquisition, even them.

 

[Mozza]

Found pappylicious’ account.

Thought you said a while back, you could not see this deal going through.

 

[Unknown Soldier]

Oh don't worry, everyone is well aware.

However nobody wants to ever have to writedown and acquisition, even them.

MS is used to writing acquisitions down though. They do it all the time, they acquire and melt down companies for scrap like it's nothing, because to them it really is nothing. They literally acquired the entire Nokia phone division and then shut it down.

 

[GHG]

MS is used to writing acquisitions down though. They do it all the time, they acquire and melt down companies for scrap like it's nothing, because to them it really is nothing. They literally acquired the entire Nokia phone division and then shut it down.

 

[Godot25]

So what you're essentially saying is that you hoped Sony would help fund this acquisition for Microsoft by giving them marketing deal money and ensuring over 60% of the userbase for COD is guaranteed to remain?

Never going to happen.

Nah. It's more like Sony could have delayed their worst fear post merger (fighting with COD on Game Pass) for several years if Jimbo wasn't so dead set on killing this deal, which currently backfired pretty spectacularly.

PlayStation money will be funding Xbox regardless. And they are doing it for a long time. I don't know if you noticed but Minecraft was best selling game in July on PS4. Now it will even more with COD, Overwatch and Diablo.

 

[Corndog]

If there’s a deal between sony and SE, then sony would need to release SE from that deal.

Of course the next step is to get SE to then release the games. No shit.

I doubt there is a permanent lockout of Xbox. I think you’re making an assumption.

 

[Dick Jones]

Meh, I dont know if that is even true. Microsoft has incentive to keep COD on Playstation just so they can buy other publishers in the future even without a deal.

What? You think Xbox Division saved up for ABK? That isn't remotely possible. Come on. Microsoft are now coming to the extinguish phase where all ABK games will be removed off console and then the wankers will try to remove them from Steam as well. Too many gullible idiots here.

You are talking about these people?

Top Microsoft executives party at Sting concert a night before mass layoffs of 10,000 employees

In a major blow to the tech industry, the company CEO Satya Nadella informed employees via an email that Microsoft will part ways with 10,000 employees.

www.indiatoday.in

They give no shit to morals.

I was more talking about the large number of Bobby Kotick defenders in this thread since the FTC lost the injunction. People defending a sexual predator, not listened to "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" the night before a mass sacking.

 

[X-Wing]

People who care about consumers don't cheer these deals.
They also don't cheer weak regulation that doesn't allow for regulators to their jobs.
This has only shown us how hypocritical fanboys can be.

 

[StealthGoblin]

I think given recent happenings that CMA would read the writing on the wall and see that basically being the only agency to block the deal isn’t a good look and would weaken their position at CAT. I could well be wrong but the fact that MS and CMA paused the CAT process and then the CMA have now extended their ‘deadline’ points to things being worked out behind the scenes and a general understanding of what a resolution looks like.

As above, it’s a really bad look for the UK if they don’t work something out now. Political pressure would pile on and regardless of independence from political influence car by case, there would be serious questions asked about whether changes to the CMA are necessary if they weren’t able to come to a resolution.

Changes are coming to the CMA - they’ll have even more power.

 

[GHG]

Nah. It's more like Sony could have delayed their worst fear post merger (fighting with COD on Game Pass) for several years if Jimbo wasn't so dead set on killing this deal, which currently backfired pretty spectacularly.

PlayStation money will be funding Xbox regardless. And they are doing it for a long time. I don't know if you noticed but Minecraft was best selling game in July on PS4. Now it will even more with COD, Overwatch and Diablo.

What you're referencing regarding Minecraft is not sales my man.

I don't know whether or not COD on gamepass specifically is a "fear" of Sony's but I can definitely see them being of the mindset that they don't want to do Microsoft any favours right now.

 

[Corndog]

They asked for divestment of Call of Duty in their final report, so anything less would be due to political pressure because I don't see any other reason why they would set such a high bar and then lower it dramatically.

Yes, there's tons of speculation.

The deal will probably pass, but I'm just saying it's not 100% clear and CMA's decision could either kill this deal if it doesn't go MS' way.

I don’t understand why they want call of duty divested when the blocked the deal over cloud gaming. Sounds like changing the rules to get the outcome they want.

 

[Mozza]

What? You think Xbox Division saved up for ABK? That isn't remotely possible. Come on. Microsoft are now coming to the extinguish phase where all ABK games will be removed off console and then the wankers will try to remove them from Steam as well. Too many gullible idiots here.

I was more talking about the large number of Bobby Kotick defenders in this thread since the FTC lost the injunction. People defending a sexual predator, not listened to "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" the night before a mass sacking.

That would be the Police, not Sting.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

Changes are coming to the CMA - they’ll have even more power.

Hopefully they focus their energy on better outcomes for competition and consumers in future as a result

 

[Dick Jones]

That would be the Police, not Sting.

Is this the dumbest gotcha or what? Tell me who wrote the song and sang vocals

 

[Corndog]

The only issue the Cloud, yes. But it still depends on if MS offers satisfies the CMA.

For example, there is a strong possibility that CMA's actual problem is MS owning the COD IP. There is evidence of that in the remedies they initially offered in their PF. They said MS can close the acquisition if they divest COD. The divestment of Activision comes from the fact that COD can't operate without Activision. The CMA also said that if Blizzard is crucial to COD production as is, then MS will also have to divest Blizzard.

Point is Microsoft's reported offer to separate xCloud from GPU or separate Activision Cloud game license to another 3rd party company may or may not achieve the same result as the divestment of Activision and, therefore, may or may not be satisfactory to the CMA. No one knows.

So the CMA lied? You can’t say the problem is cloud and the have a remedy that has nothing to do with cloud.

 

[otakuninja2006]

Man, just let the deal go thru. And besides, it's not like Microsoft's gonna make Call of Duty exclusive, especially given Minecraft and Overwatch.

 

[StealthGoblin]

Hopefully they focus their energy on better outcomes for competition and consumers in future as a result

I think they’ve done a decent job so far. After this ABK deal the industry will turn into a clusterfuck.
If the biggest 3rd party publisher can be swallowed up then it gives free reign on all the others being consolidated too.

 

[GHG]

So the CMA lied? You can’t say the problem is cloud and the have a remedy that has nothing to do with cloud.

The CMA have talked about having owenership/control of key gaming IP going into an era of cloud gaming growth and what impact that will have on competition and consumers. It's all there in their final report.

The most likely scenario is that if there are to be specific requests regarding COD then they will be for cloud gaming only.

 

[Ginzeen]

So the CMA lied? You can’t say the problem is cloud and the have a remedy that has nothing to do with cloud.

They're saying COD will give them a unfair advantage in the cloud. So they want them to sell it. But that's not happening. If that's the only forward, the CAT wouldn't of been paused. Bloomberg article from yesterday said they're talking about giving up cloud control in the UK. Something along those lines.

 

[Mozza]

Is this the dumbest gotcha or what? Tell me who wrote the song and sang vocals

Not as dumb as you keep going on about Kotick's defenders, and still not so sure what the song has to do with it all, the lyrics in question refer to something else entirely.

 

[demigod]

Thought you said a while back, you could not see this deal going through.

And?

 

[Edmund]

I feel sick reading this

Xbox Fans Spam Every FTC Post After Activision Blizzard Lawsuit Loss

Xbox fans spam the FTC and send abuse to its commissioner following the acquisition lawsuit.

www.thegamer.com

 

[Mozza]

Just wondered if you still though that way, or have come round to the fact it's now going ahead. You seemed pretty confident it was not going to go through. No hidden context other than genuine interest.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

I think they’ve done a decent job so far. After this ABK deal the industry will turn into a clusterfuck.
If the biggest 3rd party publisher can be swallowed up then it gives free reign on all the others being consolidated too.

These sort of doomer comments just seem so over the top to me.

 

[demigod]

Thought you said a while back, you could not see this deal going through.

Is this the dumbest gotcha or what? Tell me who wrote the song and sang vocals

Nah, the above is probably the dumbest gotcha.

 

[Mozza]

I feel sick reading this

Xbox Fans Spam Every FTC Post After Activision Blizzard Lawsuit Loss

Xbox fans spam the FTC and send abuse to its commissioner following the acquisition lawsuit.

www.thegamer.com

Always going to happen though, people pick sides, enough people have on here, and were delighted when it looked like the deal was going to be blocked.

 

[Dick Jones]

Man, just let the deal go thru. And besides, it's not like Microsoft's gonna make Call of Duty exclusive, especially given Minecraft and Overwatch.

Minecraft must remain multiplatform was a condition placed by Notch on the sale. Spencer in court explainedthe difficulties in making the spin offs exclusive. Overwatch isn't owned by MS currently so that example is worthless. COD will go exclusive. My theory is COD will skip the year prior to the launch of next gen (Xbox One Series X/S and PS6) and launch exclusive to Xbox on console.

 

[Ginzeen]

Minecraft must remain multiplatform was a condition placed by Notch on the sale. Spencer in court explainedthe difficulties in making the spin offs exclusive. Overwatch isn't owned by MS currently so that example is worthless. COD will go exclusive. My theory is COD will skip the year prior to the launch of next gen (Xbox One Series X/S and PS6) and launch exclusive to Xbox on console.

Cod will never go exclusive. Well at least not for 10 years. But i do see MS getting tricky with it.

 

[skit_data]

especially given Minecraft and Overwatch

 

[ArtHands]

How? The crossover is less than 20%, it's just even lower when it comes to xbox owners. I doubt the 50% are going to be happy buying COD on Switch instead.

If they don't want to take the option of playing it on XBox/Switch/PC, its on them.

That and CoD will still be on Playstation anyway.

 

[Dick Jones]

Not as dumb as you keep going on about Kotick's defenders, and still not so sure what the song has to do with it all, the lyrics in question refer to something else entirely.

Put down the shovel. You think Paul McCartney only sang Paul McCartney songs in his tours, not Paul McCartney & Wings or the Beatles songs? The song didn't matter but anyone with at least the IQ of Flipper would realise it's a comment referring to the Sting concert that I quoted.

And there are defenders of that sexual offender in this thread. Cop yourself on.

 

[StealthGoblin]

These sort of doomer comments just seem so over the top to me.

You really don’t think we’ll see huge consolidation?

I do, and I think it’ll turn nasty.

 

[Ar¢tos]

Sony DOES NOT own Square Enix.

I wonder if Sony owned Square-Enix would do a better job releasing merchandise and game related stuff in the west. SE only has limited amounts for pre order of things in the US and EU store (and nowhere the full selection of the JP store) and after that you are forced to buy from their JP store.

 

[zapper]

so the FTC has been defeated on all counts, in every appeal lol. instead of waiting for the trial in august they preferred to lose earlier to give ms the opportunity to conclude the deal, congratulations ftc.

now everything will end for the best on Monday with the pass of the cma, finally this story ends and at least from September perhaps we will return to talking about games. kudos to the regulators for proving to be useless

 

[Varteras]

Nah. It's more like Sony could have delayed their worst fear post merger (fighting with COD on Game Pass) for several years if Jimbo wasn't so dead set on killing this deal, which currently backfired pretty spectacularly.

PlayStation money will be funding Xbox regardless. And they are doing it for a long time. I don't know if you noticed but Minecraft was best selling game in July on PS4. Now it will even more with COD, Overwatch and Diablo.

Sony is also making money on those games without having to fund their development or upkeep. Now they won't market any of them either. So not only does their marketing budget get freed up to invest in promoting competitors on the bigger console, but they're still getting free revenue off of those cash cows. Keep that in mind.

 

[Mozza]

Nah, the above is probably the dumbest gotcha.

Cod will never go exclusive. Well at least not for 10 years. But i do see MS getting tricky with it.

There are a lot more ways than simple exclusivity to edge the boards in your favor, I would expect a Microsoft and P.C release for months before the games hit the Playstation.

 

[Dick Jones]

Cod will never go exclusive. Well at least not for 10 years. But i do see MS getting tricky with it.

Stop. Stop. Nintendo will get one COD game. Xbox will argue it's not financially viable to release on Nintendo. It doesn't matter the sales figures, they will likely charge 100 special edition so to minimise sales on Nintendo. They will have fulfilled their Nintendo obligation. Completed under 10 years.

Sony will only have CoD to 2 years prior to launch of the new console generation. The year before the new console launch will be a gap year and then COD on Xbox next gen only. Completed under 10 years, Sony will not sign the 10 year deal so no recourse.

Steam will be the longest. The sooner MS makes a PC store that doesn't fucking suck, the sooner MS/Bethesda/ABK games will be removed from Steam.

Nvidia games will be removed as the contract allows MS many options to cancel the deal. I sure MS lawyers can slap some makeup on one to seem credible.

The shitty companies that signed the 10 year deals will probably be bought well before the 10 years are up if they don't go under first.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

You really don’t think we’ll see huge consolidation?

I do, and I think it’ll turn nasty.

No. Even if we do, it would be very little difference to back in the 90’s where most games were exclusive to a platform and everyone seemed to survive and still enjoy gaming.

 

[Mozza]

Put down the shovel. You think Paul McCartney only sang Paul McCartney songs in his tours, not Paul McCartney & Wings or the Beatles songs? The song didn't matter but anyone with at least the IQ of Flipper would realise it's a comment referring to the Sting concert that I quoted.

And there are defenders of that sexual offender in this thread. Cop yourself on.

Why are you getting so upset over a simple difference of opinion?, I mean it's great you have appointed yourself as the moral guardian of this thread, but in reality it's simply not required or needed.

 

[GHG]

so the FTC has been defeated on all counts, in every appeal lol. instead of waiting for the trial in august they preferred to lose earlier to give ms the opportunity to conclude the deal, congratulations ftc.

now everything will end for the best on Monday with the pass of the cma, finally this story ends and at least from September perhaps we will return to talking about games. kudos to the regulators for proving to be useless

This is what makes me laugh about the FTC, they would have been in a better position (and by extension would have left the CMA in a better position) if they did nothing. Literally the definition of overplaying their hand.

When they brought things forward I thought they had something concrete (or had a plan for the trial) which would make sense, but after day 2 of the trial it was clear they had nothing. Circus of incompetence.

 

[mrmustard]

Do we have a bored super Sherlock Holmes who quotes all those guys like me who were like 'This is 100% gonna fail?

 

[Dick Jones]

Why are you getting so upset over a simple difference of opinion?, I mean it's great you have appointed yourself as the moral guardian of this thread, but in reality it's simply not required or needed.

You're the dumbass who thought The Police and Sting weren't connected. That's not a difference of opinion. Did you think the Police's lead singer was Serpico?

Also are you saying we should handwave Bobby "There is proof he was at Epstein Island" Kotick allegations? Jog on you skidmark on the underpants of this thread.

 

[Hero of Spielberg]

This is what makes me laugh about the FTC, they would have been in a better position (and by extension would have left the CMA in a better position) if they did nothing. Literally the definition of overplaying their hand.

When they brought things forward I thought they had something concrete (or had a plan for the trial) which would make sense, but after day 2 of the trial it was clear they had nothing. Circus of incompetence.

Basically the same hand the CMA has but they have less legal scrutiny up front.

 

[Mozza]

You're the dumbass who thought The Police and Sting weren't connected. That's not a difference of opinion. Did you think the Police's lead singer was Serpico?

Still triggered I see, best to get to a safe space and calm down.

 

[Chukhopops]

People who care about consumers don't cheer these deals.
They also don't cheer weak regulation that doesn't allow for regulators to their jobs.
This has only shown us how hypocritical fanboys can be.

Regulators representing 41 countries have looked at the market situation and not seen any issue.

One found some issues and they seem to be on the way to be resolved.

Maybe you guys are just over-reacting and wrong?

 

[Dick Jones]

Still triggered I see, best to get to a safe space and calm down.

Considering I'm getting updates that you are triggering my messages, I believe you are the one triggered because you were exposed as a dumbass.

Defending sexual offenders, you are a special kind of poster.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

The deal is still not going through. I'm not drinking cum

 

[Dick Jones]

The deal is still not going through. I'm not drinking cum

Either way drink it you coward

 

[GHG]

Basically the same hand the CMA has but they have less legal scrutiny up front.

The process that the CMA follows allows them to do in-depth research and then give the companies (Microsoft in this case) ample time to address their concerns. There is also a clear pathway for elaborate appeals (which is what has been and is currently in motion). The CMA are literally the reason Microsoft agreed to concessions with the EU since at that point it dawned on them that it wasn't going to be plain sailing anymore so they cut a deal with the EU that ultimately proved to be favourable for both parties.

Overall the process that the EU has is very similar to the CMA, the primary difference being that it's less transparent and they they are far more lenient (because they take a more favourable view to dishing out retrospective fines after the damage has been done). It was getting that agreement with the EU which set the wheels in motion for where we are today.

The regulatory process in America is literal chaos. There's no in depth research done by subject matter experts (they don't have the capacity) and then it's all straight to court (which, again, they don't have the capacity for either considering the shocking incompetence of their lawyers).

 

[Mozza]

Considering I'm getting updates that you are triggering my messages, I believe you are the one triggered because you were exposed as a dumbass.

Defending sexual offenders, you are a special kind of poster.

Never defended him, or stated any opinion on the matter, just suggested your role as our moral guardians was not required.

Nice try, but you need to do much better, like I said go to a safe space, calm down, and attempt to formulate a rational response.