Why can’t it just end?
https://twitter.com/tomwarren/status/1680219003061514241?t=SNFxm6rxJRNfAhxO3gAOBg&s=19
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Monday will get you the answer. That said it’s no longer if, it’s when.
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Wouldn’t be surprised if they end up closing right around the time Starfield launches and I don’t have the time to play those ABK games on Game Pass because I’ll be playing Starfield, all thanks to the CMA 
Next week would be perfect.
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did FT said CMA was going to approve? after that we can’t trust 100%, even good sources can miss.
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I’m with @Zappy5 on this one. For the first time in all these months the deal seems to be in a really good place for it to go through and maybe with everything that has happened so far MS got the CMA to approve the deal but to do that they first need to do what they are doing now (either it is a save-face tactic or the CMA thinks that is enough to let them close)
So unless MS achieved something behind the doors with the CMA/UK (or something we dont know because according to the FT they have been talking for over a month) for them to close this week I dont think is wise to rush the process when theres a high possibility of the deal going through in “legal” way in UK and not anger the CMA.
MS and ABK have never been this close to get what they want thats why I dont see either of them walking away and instead wait a couple of weeks.
This talk of delays is clealry just to ensure we enter OT4 and I frankly will not stand for that
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Everyone, take the weekend off.
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I’m personally pretty sure this closes next week. Thats where my bet is.
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Man, I just had another thought to add to this. FIFA 2023 is also on Gamepass. And when the new EA soccer game comes out you will get a 10% Xbox discount. Once European casuals wake the f*** up I think things will change faster than people realize. It’s just the biased media and cultists holding the line, but starting with Starfield, there might be a surprising shift.
Why are Sony fans even concerned at all? At my local Costco, front and center are PS5 & NSW, XBox is hidden away somewhere.
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If Microsoft is now in good terms with the CMA, close to come to new compromises, and they ve managed to agree on an extension with ABK, in written form or not, I think they would wait for now.
I don’t think they would see getting into possibly more trouble with the CMA if closing over them as worth it. Remember optics are very important in these acquisition games.
I picture this as the absolute leader in a race, with a pace which can’t just be followed, having the end line moved a few meters away after an exhausting long run of many many kilometers.
Annoying but hey, after all they ve been trough, they can hold it on a little longer.
Look at this most purchased ps5 games list from last month … lots of current and future Gamepass titles. How long can the bias media and cultists hold the line?
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The Stans on the old site still think this won’t go through despite time and time again MS and Xbox clearing hurdle after hurdle.
I think MS could personally fly them all out to watch MS do some of the closing procedures in person and they’d still say it’s not gonna happen.
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https://twitter.com/lulumeservey/status/1680233193491017728?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ
Someone is in a good mood.
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Continuing with an extension does pose risk to the deal beyond the simple ABK maybe not wanting to extend.
If they extend there are two additional where everything could fall apart. There is the appeal to the 9th circuit and there is the internal ALJ proceedings that could also result in the FTC seeking and getting an injunction.
Right now if Microsoft closes, its a done deal. If they wait, its not a certainty that the deal will consumate.
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I don’t see ABK walking away even if it is a possibility
Nobody else is paying what MS is in the current market and at this point the deal is essentially done and now a when, not if
If the FTC got their delay then yea, maybe ABK would have gave up but with a path seemingly set with the CMA, it doesn’t make sense to walk away at this point
Giving up a 69b deal because you can’t wait an extra few weeks and cause your stock to completely plummet? Can’t see it
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I hope they make these. I’m not the biggest cod player but I would legit buy cod Christmas warzone skins just on principal.
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I kind of hope Xbox/Microsoft gets the marketing rights for battlefield and then makes COD release every other year and then talks with EA about having battlefield release in the off years.
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There is no risk to the deal up till end of August which is the timetable at worst we are talking about. The FTC can’t get an injunction now bar the appeal and that won’t be concluded by end of August.
There is nothing the FTC can do in the timetable outlined.
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