• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

FTC Seeks to Block Microsoft Corp’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

Almost on que... I present the Jez dumb take...


CarefulFrequentDrafthorse-size_restricted.gif
 

graywolf323

Member
That’s the funny part. You have two very conflicting reasons why it’s not releasing for PlayStation from the same camp.

> third party publisher who has been publishing all their games the last 3 gens on almost every platform, especially where they sold the most on recently, was never going to publish this on PlayStation.

> Sony tried getting exclusive rights, wether outright or timed, that’s why MS was forced to buy them.

Honk honk.
often you get both from the same exact users even because they're just so far down the rabbit hole at this point they wouldn't know a logical thought if it slapped them across the face
 

begotten

Member
The fact all these organizations are parroting Sony lies makes it evident that MS will use examples of Sony tactics to fight this being that they are the market leader.
You guys are the delusional ones. Plenty of evidence Sony is both anti-competitive and anti-consumer. Stay tuned. As Brad Smith said, MS is going to war.

No wonder why you usually react to posts that either validate you or don't.

You talk like a clueless baboon otherwise.
 

ZehDon

Member
It has been since you made a blank statement without any proof to it. Next time don’t acuse other of something you have only pure conjecture to back your point up.
Conjecture - being publicly made statements by the FTCs head literally saying they'll actively seek to pursue legal actions that they themselves admit are not enforceable by the anti-trust law they're attempting to invoke? Might need to actually look up the words your'e using. There's a reason their probe into Amazon's MGM buyout failed. It's the same reason this attempt will fail: they're enforcing the FTC's head's ideological opposition to "big tech", as opposed to enforcing their own legal precedent and anti-trust laws.

Okay, so in your opinion what specific laws are they not following?
I might not have been clear: the FTC isn't going against "a law", they're simply not acting within "the law". The FTC's job is, essentially, to ensure fair trade. Microsoft's deal doesn't really impinge on this. The FTC's anti-trust claims will be slapped down because the FTC has allowed M&A bigger than this previously in other industries, and there is no specific law that says "big tech can't buy companies". Microsoft has already worked to undermine monopolistic claims with its Nintendo deal and offerings to Sony, and the numbers after the purchase don't add up to Microsoft being able to foreclose a single competitor in any industry. In fact, it won't even supplant its competitors - it'll simply be able to close the 2:1 gap in the video game industry that Sony established last generation, and close in on Nintendo and Sony - both of whom will remain bigger players. This actually means more competition, not less. The FTC's job isn't to stop "big tech" from diversifying, just like the CMA's job isn't to protect Sony's business interests. The FTC is making noise because it's head has taken a public "anti-big tech" stand, not because Microsoft has breached a law or regulation.
 
Last edited:
The same rights they had in the 360 days? Of timed exclusives dlc (30 days), marketing rights etc.
Don Mattrick.

Xbox was a killer disrupter of a console, giving gamers of the era yet another box with games. During the 360 era they released a lot of in-house killer games and tied up good marketing deals with 3rd party devs, but something happened around the time of the Xbox One release, its like they just forgot how they got in this position. Fuck up and after fuck up to give Sony a head start, and not following up and delivering with real killer titles on a fast enough basis.
 
The fact all these organizations are parroting Sony lies makes it evident that MS will use examples of Sony tactics to fight this being that they are the market leader.
Guess what, most of Sony console sales are because people want to play the latest call of duty in there, that or fortnite or FIFA. Not everyone purchases Sony exclusives.
 

Salz01

Member
At this point I just want it all to be over, so that Sony can have the Playsation Studios show case to finally show the goods…
 

Ezekiel_

Banned
Conjecture - being publicly made statements by the FTCs head literally saying they'll actively seek to pursue legal actions that they themselves admit are not enforceable by the anti-trust law they're attempting to invoke? Might need to actually look up the words your'e using. There's a reason their probe into Amazon's MGM buyout failed. It's the same reason this attempt will fail: they're enforcing the FTC's head's ideological opposition to "big tech", as opposed to enforcing their own legal precedent and anti-trust laws.


I might not have been clear: the FTC isn't going against "a law", they're simply not acting within "the law". The FTC's job is, essentially, to ensure fair trade. Microsoft's deal doesn't really impinge on this. The FTC's anti-trust claims will be slapped down because the FTC has allowed M&A bigger than this previously in other industries, and there is no specific law that says "big tech can't buy companies". Microsoft has already worked to undermine monopolistic claims with its Nintendo deal and offerings to Sony, and the numbers after the purchase don't add up to Microsoft being able to foreclose a single competitor in any industry. In fact, it won't even supplant its competitors - it'll simply be able to close the 2:1 gap in the video game industry that Sony established last generation, and close in on Nintendo and Sony - both of whom will remain bigger players. This actually means more competition, not less. The FTC's job isn't to stop "big tech" from diversifying, just like the CMA's job isn't to protect Sony's business interests. The FTC is making noise because it's head has taken a public "anti-big tech" stand, not because Microsoft has breached a law or regulation.
If no precedent exists, then this is a great opportunity for it!
 
Last edited:

BennyBlanco

aka IMurRIVAL69
Don Mattrick.

Xbox was a killer disrupter of a console, giving gamers of the era yet another box with games. During the 360 era they released a lot of in-house killer games and tied up good marketing deals with 3rd party devs, but something happened around the time of the Xbox One release, its like they just forgot how they got in this position. Fuck up and after fuck up to give Sony a head start, and not following up and delivering with real killer titles on a fast enough basis.

Xbox One early on had interesting games. Killer Instinct, Titanfall, Sunset Overdrive, Ori…. They just stopped doing deals for exclusives at some point.
 
interesting. Can’t see that happening anymore. Oh well, it’s not the end of the world, it’s not like those games won’t be available on Xbox. Although it would be entertaining if Jim tried to money hat the next COD as an exclusive to PS5!

Anyway, whatever. Xbox apparently have a lot coming out next year. It’s not like we’ll be starved for games. Too many as it is.
 

gothmog

Gold Member
I might not have been clear: the FTC isn't going against "a law", they're simply not acting within "the law". The FTC's job is, essentially, to ensure fair trade. Microsoft's deal doesn't really impinge on this. The FTC's anti-trust claims will be slapped down because the FTC has allowed M&A bigger than this previously in other industries, and there is no specific law that says "big tech can't buy companies". Microsoft has already worked to undermine monopolistic claims with its Nintendo deal and offerings to Sony, and the numbers after the purchase don't add up to Microsoft being able to foreclose a single competitor in any industry. In fact, it won't even supplant its competitors - it'll simply be able to close the 2:1 gap in the video game industry that Sony established last generation, and close in on Nintendo and Sony - both of whom will remain bigger players. This actually means more competition, not less. The FTC's job isn't to stop "big tech" from diversifying, just like the CMA's job isn't to protect Sony's business interests. The FTC is making noise because it's head has taken a public "anti-big tech" stand, not because Microsoft has breached a law or regulation.
FTC is about protecting markets. The only controverisial part about what they are doing now is that they are trying to also protect emerging and poorly defined markets as well. There are plenty of places where the FTC could have stepped in and stopped companies like Facebook from acquiring every potential competitor. They are literally trying to predict the future with past data.

Based on that definition, I thought they made their case well in the summary I read. Microsoft has a documented history of abusing their position. Microsoft bought another large publisher. Microsoft did the thing they are saying they will not do already with the other publisher. Therefore, they are likely to do the same thing with this deal no matter what they say.

That whole FTC is here to prevent monopolies only is a myth. There are cases they cite themselves in some of their guidance where they have sued successfully to block acquisitions where the combined market share of the combined company was less than 30%. It's all about the force multiplier of the acquisition more than the actual market share. Especially in these emerging markets.
 

The Alien

Banned
Deal will happen. It was always tracking to a early/they are.

While this may be a bump in the road, big tech money buys big tech lawyers (and politicians). The FTC was using this to look tough on tech while actually continuing to be the limp dicks they are.

Likely outcome will weigh even more heavily in favor of Microsoft. Any concessions would be a settlement. I think they'll go for the gusto.
 
Deal will happen. It was always tracking to a early/they are.

While this may be a bump in the road, big tech money buys big tech lawyers (and politicians). The FTC was using this to look tough on tech while actually continuing to be the limp dicks they are.

Likely outcome will weigh even more heavily in favor of Microsoft. Any concessions would be a settlement. I think they'll go for the gusto.

Phil, is that you?
 

Dick Jones

Gold Member


Well, looks like we know the outcome for this deal.

Microsoft never stood a chance when Pachter ruled in their favour. At least a stopped clock is right twice a day.
 
Top Bottom