Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard Discussion Thread |OT2| The NeverEnding Acquisition

[BellaBundy (Jacob Boivin)]

@BadNews

This is bigger than xbox because they would also have to pull their other operations, which is a big no no

Yeah they’re not pulling proper Microsoft, Word, Office, Azure and all out of the UK. Just not plausible.

[LeeLayfield (Lee)]

Not sure if it’s just me but all the joy of Xbox just got sucked out the room.

Yes they’ve got great games coming but now I feel all the other companies will pick up all the good devs while Xbox deal and ultimately loose this case.

I’m gunna come off the internet for a few weeks haha.

[profjjj]

It’s really hard to read this decision as anything other than ideological and predetermined at this point. Any rational reading of the facts does not support this decision.

Cloud gaming is 1.4% of the market. So even if Microsoft has a 60% market share, that’s a rounding error in the overall gaming market. Why would you make a decision that harms the other 98.6% of the market to “protect” the 1.4%?

Not to mention that Microsoft’s huge lead in cloud is because it innovated its business model and made massive investments in infrastructure - far more than any of its competitors. So, the CMA wants to punish Microsoft in the one market niche where it has clear success due to its foresight and investment. It makes no sense on any level other than ideological.

I don’t understand the UK appeals process well enough to make any prediction about the likelihood of success on appeal, but I do believe there is the possibility to leapfrog the CMA/CAT and appeal directly to the prime minister / government. That may end up being the play.

Last thought - I am now very curious as to why the European Commission delayed its decision. Is it blocking too and wanted the CMA to take the heat? Is it unrelated? All the news coming out of Europe has been positive, so very curious move.

[Solidevolution (Brandon B)]

If Microsoft can’t buy ABK they might just have to invest in it and become a minority stake holder.

[BellaBundy (Jacob Boivin)]

@LeeLayfield

Not sure if it’s just me but all the joy of Xbox just got sucked out the room.

Yes they’ve got great games coming but now I feel all the other companies will pick up all the good devs while Xbox deal and ultimately loose this case.

I’m gunna come off the internet for a few weeks haha.

I know this sucks, but honestly, even without Activision, Xbox + Bethesda is still a nutty first party crew.

[commanderbuck]

Folks, I can’t lie this is terrible news. Do something else today besides looking at tweets and posts for your own good.

[PCPrincipal]

Journalists are going to be rejoicing today.

[MJ_INC]

I’m suprised they are going to the appeals process. Not only is the bar very high but they will have to likely renegotiate the deal with Activision blizzard to extend the time frame which probably comes with more financial penalties over theb$3bn in currently is.

[pip-boy3000]

@commanderbuck

Folks, I can’t lie this is terrible news. Do something else today besides looking at tweets and posts for your own good.

I’ve bunkered down in this thread lol. Closed twitter, reddit and resetera.

[BigMacTonight]

@commanderbuck

Folks, I can’t lie this is terrible news. Do something else today besides looking at tweets and posts for your own good.

You should do that any day tbh, but this is moreso

[commanderbuck]

@pip-boy3000

I’ve bunkered down in this thread lol. Closed twitter, reddit and resetera.

Lol yeah I wouldn’t go to any of those other places.

[Zappy5]

@AllianceOfficer

While they are, Activison makes more money than the UK provides for Microsoft.

Can we please stop with this, UK is somewhere between 20 and 30% of MS turnover. Thats far in excess of ABK revenue.

Not to mention the residual impact of the UK - a major player having to use non MS products - and knock on effects for other markets.

[dinkeytom]

@Hue

Now they seem to suggest Microsoft were unwilling to offer it on platforms outside of Windows?? It’s cloud!! I.e anything with a web browser can play it…

But it’s true Microsoft only made deals with Cloud Providers who use Windows. This ensures that Linux or any other OS can’t become viable platforms to adopt in Cloud gaming businesses.

[Callangoso]

tbh i’m really worried about the future of the Xbox brand now. Microsoft was dead set on acquiring Activision.

[kjemiker]

@BellaBundy

Yeah they’re not pulling proper Microsoft, Word, Office, Azure and all out of the UK. Just not plausible.

I wish they could. Pull everything out of the uk. And deactivate all uk windows and office licenses. Make everything not work.

[Zappy5]

@MJ_INC

I’m suprised they are going to the appeals process. Not only is the bar very high but they will have to likely renegotiate the deal with Activision blizzard to extend the time frame which probably comes with more financial penalties over theb$3bn in currently is.

Appeal probably take 6 months minimum likely a year so yes they will need to.

[Vivir]

Gotta touch grass if you expect MS to completely pull out of the UK over this lol.

It’s never happening.

[Paxton]

Imagine punishing the only company who actually invested deep into cloud gaming while everyone else with pockets didn’t do an effort, I feel sad for the smaller companies who got provisional deal based on the approval as a requirement to go through.

[BellaBundy (Jacob Boivin)]

@profjjj

…its business model and made massive investments in infrastructure - far more than any of its competitors. So, the CMA wants to punish Microsoft in the one market niche where it has clear success due to its foresight and investment. It makes no sense on any level other than ideological. I don’t understand the UK appeals process well enough to make any prediction about the likelihood of success on appeal, but I do believe there is the possibility to leapfrog the CMA/CAT and appeal directly to the prime minister / government. That may end up being the play. Last thought - I am now very curious as to why the European Commission delayed its decision. Is it blocking too and wanted the CMA to take the heat? Is it unrelated? All the news coming out of Europe has been positive, so very curious move.

That punishing of a tech company who dared to innovate in a niche market is exactly what will kill the tech m arket in the UK. There is absolutely no reason for any tech company to move to the UK.

[Sparda3g]

Very likely to be lost in here due to multiple reactions but I’ll say this as an advice:

The ride is going to be a long one. It’s best if you just move on until a breaking news, whether is Microsoft fold or win overall. Staying here isn’t healthy and it showed beforehand. Please don’t take too hard on it and move forward until any notice.