Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard Discussion Thread |OT3| - Sony bends the knee!

[howlingmosquito (mosquito)]

[CryOn]

@BadNews

imo Jim Ryan actually got a W here. I know it may be an unpopular statement here, but Jim ryan got a good consolation prize of getting COD guaranteed for 10+ years. I believe the original offer was 3 years, then 10, and now it seems it’s longer than 10 years

Why should Microsoft change the agreement to more than 10 years ? It’s likely that’s it’s the same contract.

And didn’t Microsoft got access to the last 5 (?) years of Sony’s information like exclusive deals and other stuff thanks to the FTC investigation ?

How is this a win ?

[CallMeCraig]

@Daniel

Microsoft was never going to remove COD, it might look like he got something but he didn’t. This whole 3/10 year deal was just for regulators, Minecraft doesn’t have a deal yet they didn’t remove it and it would’ve been the same.

exactly

I’m a little bit surprised Sony signed this deal. Maybe they just wanted to write the 70/30 split down for 10 years.

Iron Lords will be fun

[Daniel]

@BadNews

Agreed, but it’s always great to get everything on paper. So, getting that guaranteed on paper that COD can’t be removed is key, and Jim was able to get that. I’ve always been along the lines of COD and other MTX heavy games like OW and possibly diablo will stay on Playstation. However, I could see Diablo 5 being xbox only since I don’t think the MTX makes crazy amount of money tbh

Yep, OW/COD will stay multiplatform and pretty much everything else is a question mark. I don’t honestly think games which are MP that are unannounced like that Blizzard survival will launch on PS, I think new IP should always be exclusive even if it is MP.

[Zappy5]

@BadNews

imo Jim Ryan actually got a W here. I know it may be an unpopular statement here, but Jim ryan got a good consolation prize of getting COD guaranteed for 10+ years. I believe the original offer was 3 years, then 10, and now it seems it’s longer than 10 years

Jim Ryan has been completely defeated and embarrassed here. He did what he had to do in corporate wars sure. But he’s lost.

[BRiT]

@BadNews

Agreed, but it’s always great to get everything on paper. So, getting that guaranteed on paper that COD can’t be removed is key, and Jim was able to get that. I’ve always been along the lines of COD and other MTX heavy games like OW and possibly diablo will stay on Playstation. However, I could see Diablo 5 being xbox only since I don’t think the MTX makes crazy amount of money tbh

But the FTC said contracts don’t mean anything…

I agree with your take, it was vital for Sony to get the agreement. I, like many of us, am curious as to the terms of it. Was it the same agreement from before or was it something new that’s slightly different. Its not like we saw every part of the contract as it had redactions in the court filings, from what I recall.

[bcatwilly]

The discovery in the sham FTC case tells all of us that COD was always going to be on PlayStation given that their financial modeling to the board and all internal communications were always about it staying on PlayStation. Ryan knew that too as shown by his email, and he chose to lie and work with regulators to block. As a PS5 owner here too, Sony’s behavior throughout this has kept me from spending any money in their ecosystem.

[BadNews]

@BRiT

But the FTC said contracts don’t mean anything…

I agree with your take, it was vital for Sony to get the agreement. I, like many of us, am curious as to the terms of it. Was it the same agreement from before or was it something new that’s slightly different. Its not like we saw every part of the contract as it had redactions in the court filings, from what I recall.

Yeah, we have to know the terms, but I feel it’s safe to say only COD is guaranteed, and other games will be case by case

[hexbacon]

@BRiT

But the FTC said contracts don’t mean anything…

I agree with your take, it was vital for Sony to get the agreement. I, like many of us, am curious as to the terms of it. Was it the same agreement from before or was it something new that’s slightly different. Its not like we saw every part of the contract as it had redactions in the court filings, from what I recall.

I wonder if they could’ve bough the marketing rights back in exchange for a higher split during the years the old contract would’ve been in placed ??

[Daniel]

Do we count this as another L for FTC? how quickly are they gonna fully drop the case now.

[BadNews]

@CryOn

Why should Microsoft change the agreement to more than 10 years ? It’s likely that’s it’s the same contract.

And didn’t Microsoft got access to the last 5 (?) years of Sony’s information like exclusive deals and other stuff thanks to the FTC investigation ?

How is this a win ?

I feel change could be to appease regulators, and good PR tbh. I think many realized Microsoft doesn’t want to create a vacuum of a new shooter to emerge in cod space , so cod was going to remain multiplatform. I think extending 10+ years could work in their favour for future acquisitions and PR

[pg2g]

@BadNews

imo Jim Ryan actually got a W here. I know it may be an unpopular statement here, but Jim ryan got a good consolation prize of getting COD guaranteed for 10+ years. I believe the original offer was 3 years, then 10, and now it seems it’s longer than 10 years

It’s hard to tell without knowing the terms of the deal, but i doubt it’s a W given the current situation. That ain’t how it goes when you deny a deal and then change your mind when your opponent is in a position of strength.

IMO, at best he’s agreeing to an offer similar to he was offered and denied previously.

[howlingmosquito (mosquito)]

Jim Ryan basically gave Xbox carte blanche to acquire anyone. Now any challenges can use this as example…Sony relents. Gives up.

[Knottian (Daniel)]

@Deus

Note that it’s only about CoD. No mention about anything else from ABK.

Bingo. Definitive as any statement to me.

[Searsy82]

I can’t imagine the contract having better terms. They were no longer under any obligation to even provide a contract. This thing was done without and Sony’s concerns had been entirely dismissed.

Its important to do what they said they were going to, but Sony is no longer in a place to demand preferential treatment.

[CryOn]

@BadNews

I feel change could be to appease regulators, and good PR tbh. I think many realized Microsoft doesn’t want to create a vacuum of a new shooter to emerge in cod space , so cod was going to remain multiplatform. I think extending 10+ years could work in their favour for future acquisitions and PR

I disagree. There is no reason to change the agreement when everyone else accepted the terms.

And in the end it really doesn’t matter because CoD will always be multiplat.

We always have new FPS military shooter on the market, but nothing comes to CoD. Some games will always be on top thanks to their community.

[Staffy]

Not shocking at all that Sony agreed, and for damn sure Jim Ryan was talking crap when he said they won’t give PS6 info if this deal closes. They aren’t stupid.

[Biggzy (Hassan)]

@Daniel

Do we count this as another L for FTC? how quickly are they gonna fully drop the case now.

100% a massive L. We know from the trial that pretty much their entire argument revolved around Sony and now they have given their implicit consent to the deal.

It would be wild for them to pursue when Sony has agreed a deal.

[pg2g]

@Staffy

Not shocking at all that Sony agreed, and for damn sure Jim Ryan was talking crap when he said they won’t give PS6 info if this deal closes. They aren’t stupid.

It’s dumb, they’ll have Xbox-next info via Bungie and MLB too. These companies know what each other are doing anyway.

[MasterChief]

@bcatwilly

The discovery in the sham FTC case tells all of us that COD was always going to be on PlayStation given that their financial modeling to the board and all internal communications were always about it staying on PlayStation. Ryan knew that too as shown by his email, and he chose to lie and work with regulators to block. As a PS5 owner here too, Sony’s behavior throughout this has kept me from spending any money in their ecosystem.

Not gonna lie, their behavior throughout this is what’s probably gonna keep me from buying a PS5 any time soon.