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

[PCPrincipal]

@CryOn

His next tweets were about Zelda TotK so maybe it was just about Zelda.

Aah. Ok

[KakkaKarrotKake]

So how does CAT work?

If the concerns are cloud and the CAT says that their concerns are bollocks, does the Cloud concern get dropped and the deal goes through since its the only remaining concern?

[Searsy82]

Tears of the Kingdom previews are dropping.

[CryOn]

@Searsy82

Tears of the Kingdom previews are dropping.

Best news of the day.

[n0tjack (NotJack)]

@Sikamikanico

Today, I come one step closer to closing this thread forever.

Condolences

[Staffy]

@Good_Old_Collingwood

Brad Sams:

Sigh, wtf.

So any telling how long this can last, and if its even worth it for MS to not just call it quits instead?

[Zappy5]

Competition Appeal Tribunal Sets Deferential Standard for CMA Merger Control...

• Successful quasi-merits style arguments based on distortion of the facts or lack of proportionality are exceptionally rare, given the very broad margin of discretion afford to the CMA and the very high threshold for showing irrationality or unreasonableness.

[Doncabesa (Jesse Norris)]

@Staffy

Sigh, wtf.

So any telling how long this can last, and if its even worth it for MS to not just call it quits instead?

No they can’t just call it quits, because the precedent set by this ridiculous reasoning means the CMA can and most likely would block any acquisitions by Xbox as they are a “monopoly” in cloud game streaming

[PCPrincipal]

@peter42O

UGH. Can’t say that im surprised because im not. This shit is never going to end. In all honesty, I believe that Microsoft should just walk away and move on. Stay away from publishers unless they’re small and just concentrate on acquiring development studios because if they lose the appeal which I do believe they will, all this is, is a waste of money, time and resources. It’s obvious that regulators are never going to allow Microsoft to truly compete due to them being a $2T dollar company so some times, you just got to say fuck it and move on.

But that would set a bad precedent if they decide to walk out without a fight. It will result is basically Sony being allowed to do whatever they want and holding Xbox’s growth. If they are serious they will have to go balls to the wall.

[Staffy]

@Doncabesa

No they can’t just call it quits, because the precedent set by this ridiculous reasoning means the CMA can and most likely would block any acquisitions by Xbox as they are a “monopoly” in cloud game streaming

For fuck’s sake.

I guess MS and we got lucky with Zenimax, wow.

[PCPrincipal]

@Doncabesa

No they can’t just call it quits, because the precedent set by this ridiculous reasoning means the CMA can and most likely would block any acquisitions by Xbox as they are a “monopoly” in cloud game streaming

The imaginary monopoly

[Popppi (Phil Spencer's shelf)]

@Thebaconlife

Im still confident this is going though at the end of the day but damn this is getting old. over cloud gaming no less. now we may have to deal with this though 2024 ugggh

We don’t though. No one has to pay attention to this stuff. Everyone is free to ignore it. I will do that for the most part.

I also see a lot of people who argue this thing somehow hamstrings xbox. Like they can’t do anything else while this deal is in the works. This notion is ludicrous imo.

[nursegamer20]

As much as I want Microsoft to just cut this deal and move on to other things, I understand why Microsoft would fight for this deal because if they let this stand, this would lead to future precedents where the CMA is embolden to block any deal Microsoft does, gaming or non gaming, by using Microsoft cloud or OS infrastructure as reasons why. This is bad for any industry because the CMA or any western ideological regulators would ironically would limit investments on nascent markets because there is no incentives for big companies to do it anymore due to regulatory scrutiny. This is also bad for the UK because this will definitely taint the image they are trying to paint, which is them being a destination for tech investments, especially when they are facing competition from developing nations that has a bigger workforce and natural resources.

[howlingmosquito (mosquito)]

@peter42O

UGH. Can’t say that im surprised because im not. This shit is never going to end. In all honesty, I believe that Microsoft should just walk away and move on.

Never going to happen. If they walk away now, any Xbox…any Microsoft purchase can be undermined. Buying IO interactive for $200m? Not allowed for reasons 10 years down the road.

They will fight this. Otherwise Microsoft will never be able to grow.

[leburn98]

@Doncabesa

No they can’t just call it quits, because the precedent set by this ridiculous reasoning means the CMA can and most likely would block any acquisitions by Xbox as they are a “monopoly” in cloud game streaming

It’s not just gaming. This would set a bad precedent for most of Microsoft’s future acquisitions. Practically every acquisition that would be beneficial to their AI ambitions would be blocked under the guise of ‘monopoly in AI’ for example.

[Zappy5]

@Popppi

We don’t though. No one has to pay attention to this stuff. Everyone is free to ignore it. I will do that for the most part.

I also see a lot of people who argue this thing somehow hamstrings xbox. Like they can’t do anything else while this deal is in the works. This notion is ludicrous imo.

It sucks a lot of time though in terms of talking about it - Spencer ends up being asked about it. I feel it is distorting the narrative. Xbox should be coming out talking up their games but aren’t. Is that because of this deal? I think in part it is.

[PCPrincipal]

@leburn98

It’s not just gaming. This would set a bad precedent for most of Microsoft’s future acquisitions. Practically every acquisition that would be beneficial to their AI ambitions would be blocked under the guise of ‘monopoly in AI’ for example.

Forget about MS for a moment. Its basically means the companies are no longer allowed to push innovation and make the market more competitive and exciting.

[peter42O]

@PCPrincipal

But that would set a bad precedent if they decide to walk out without a fight. It will result is basically Sony being allowed to do whatever they want and holding Xbox’s growth. If they are serious they will have to go balls to the wall.

True but thinking about it, they should wait for EU decision in May. Now, if they block as well, that would mean Microsoft has to fight CMA, EU and FTC. Plus, who knows what the other regulators remaining will do as they will probably just follow the big three. That’s just too much. They’re concentrating way too much on this now if EU blocks. Like come on. Sometimes, you’re just not meant to win.

But whatever. Not only will this shit NEVER END but even worse, im not getting Diablo IV on Game Pass any time soon. Fucking hell!!!

@howlingmosquito

Never going to happen. If they walk away now, any Xbox…any Microsoft purchase can be undermined. Buying IO interactive for $200m? Not allowed for reasons 10 years down the road.

They will fight this. Otherwise Microsoft will never be able to grow.

All true. But if EU blocks. Is Microsoft really going to fight all 3 regulators at the same time at the cost of putting the rest of their business on hold? Because there goes any studio acquisitions whatsoever. They got ZeniMax and I understand why they went after ABK but looking at the regulators and the political climate, they should have just waited it out. Either way, it’s a shit show.

[Popppi (Phil Spencer's shelf)]

@drakel

I’d even argue them focusing on this deal played a huge part in their very lackluster 2022, trying to look small and weak

See, I don’t think this makes any sense. They have to disclose a shit ton of information to these regulators. They don’t have secret game releases the cma or anyone doesn’t already know about.

Plus, they can still make aquisitions during that whole ordeal.

[Popppi (Phil Spencer's shelf)]

@TheLegendaryGamer

Can still get Them, will just have to pay Embracer a premium for them. probably 2x what Embracer paid for them.

What makes anyone think, MS would’ve bought SE west if it wasn’t for ABK? SE west wasn’t very profitable to begin with. MS might’ve just not been interested in them.