I normally don’t agree with Jez’s takes but I think it’s a dead mission. I understand why MS has to fight it though.
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Based on the argument we often hear on this forum that “Jez is always wrong” this should give us hope that the deal will go through.
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This is my grip with the current administration, like I get focusing on our own internal problems, and of course the infighting between the 2 political parties make it worse. But we need to take care of our country’s interest abroad too, especially when we are going against BRIC nations that want to move away from the reliance of the dollar. Other countries smell blood because we are showing weakness and appointing a ideologue like Lina Khan made it worse, as it imbolden other regulators like the CMA, to push their crusade against “big bad tech” or even other companies without repercussions. So basically punishing our own companies that is supposed to be our leverage against the rising China and other developing states.If our government had strong leadership in terms of trade and international relations, I honestly don’t think we get into this mess. Hopefully our leadership realizes this and the CHIPS act is a good start. Also, when we make trade deals, make sure its in equal terms and that any type of regulation should be reciprocal.
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It has become clear in recent days that this process is entirely ideological and political, not economic. Viewing the EU decision through that lens I suspect it will be really hard for it to resist sticking it to the UK by approving the deal. The optics of that for tech companies could be huge.
The “risk” of doing that appears to be tiny. Either the deal ultimately fails and the EU gains the goodwill of MSFT and the tech industry or the deal goes through and the EU is the hero for helping turn the tide. I don’t really see a downside for the EU of approving it.
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I like Jez and think he gets far to much hate. But even I think the deal has hope now.
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Yup, if the EU wants to stick it to the UK for leaving the union, now is the time lol
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Touche. 
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No one like the decision. It’s lunacy.
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Great advice. Hope he takes it. This CMA decision is certainly hazardous to health.
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If reasoning can be twisted to get something blocked, reasoning can be twisted to undo the block. They’re all going to do whatever they want and formulate a reason after the fact. Laws are just theater and fantasy now.
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Jez sounded sad on Xbox two about the deal not going though. the whole other aquisitons things was expected but still sucks. who knows what company’s xbox missed out on because of this ABK fiasco
It’s way harder in this case, the CMA seems to have the power to operate based on what they think may or may not happen and their opinions instead of facts, I don’t know how a country even allows this.
The studios SE sold for sure, could’ve had the Tomb Raider IP 
Probably Bungie too.
I wonder if Lina Khan will meet with the head of the EC competition branch ahead of the ruling like she did with the head of the CMA. Could tilt them to a block
CD would have definitely been owned by Microsoft. I remember when Matt Booty said he jumped at the opportunity to work with them what a missed chance and would have helped Xbox have another third person AAA studio
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If there are/were interested parties in joining Xbox and the timing isn’t right then Xbox could strike a deal to invest in their studio plus fund and market their game. Maybe put in a clause with first right of refusal on an acquisition within a certain time frame.
There are ways Xbox could keep interested studios close and financially secure.
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I don’t think that will do anything. The EC will not like the idea of following UK. it also allows them to flex against UK. On the other hand, if Lina meets with EC and they block I would imagine Microsoft might just surprise everyone by suing Lina and the FTC like Disney is doing with Desantis.
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In the case of CD and Eidos that wasn’t possible SE needed the money asap and was looking to offload those studios to any buyer. Microsoft promising to pay up later wouldn’t have worked in that scenario
Despite all the gloom I still believe this deal will pass.
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I don’t understand, why not talk about details of the meeting? Why not be more clear to the public they’re supposedly trying to protect about what they talked about? And why else would they even meet in the first place if not to discuss how to go about blocking the deal…
The 2 agencies most aggressively against the deal meet but nothing to see here 
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