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

[Sparda3g]

https://twitter.com/idlesloth84_/status/1681694791153639425?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ

[KakkaKarrotKake]

@euV2

So, in the future when Xbox tries to buy another publisher how does the current stance of MS benefit them? CMA can just go ahead and block the deal and say we are not accepting behavioral remedies only structural, MS working with regulators helped with the EU not the UK because the law gives the CMA way too much power. I feel MS accepting this divestiture is because they want to close the deal quickly. If the Uk cloud market would be projected to be as big as the US for example, I find it hard to believe that MS would be willing to give away the business so easily.

If the CMA are being genuine in the future they might not need/ask for any remedies, if they do buy another publisher it will be far smaller than ABK is, let’s assume it’s SEGA based on those internal documents, nothing they have has the same “unicorn” level IP that ABK does

Just because they had to divest something here doesn’t mean they will need to in the future provided these regulators aren’t being dicks for the sake of it

Plus we don’t actually know what they are divesting yet, whether it’s just ABK cloud rights or if it’s all their cloud stuff in the UK

If it’s the former they could always do the same with SEGA if it happens or if it’s the latter then the cloud stuff won’t even be an issue there but regardless, whatever they buy won’t have anywhere near the attention ABK does so I don’t think there’s much to worry about at this stage

[Daniel]

@BadNews

Not surprising tbh. I remember I went back to school last year, and most college kids were PC gamers. I think younger generation is gravitating towards PC gaming tbh.

Yup I think PC gaming is only going to get bigger and bigger and Microsoft most likely saw this coming.

@ShinMegamiTenseiX

CMA deadline is end of August correct?

Hopefully they reach a conclusion before that.

The moment CMA approves the moment they should close it.

Soon as the CMA approve it then there’s nothing stopping them and they don’t need to wait to this new date.

@Knottian

Also, those “ABK will walk away and pocket $3 billion” folks sure are quiet today

That short lived hopium was funny, so was the whole we want ABK staff to have a better workplace but we also don’t want Microsoft to have them and we’re now happy to use Bobby as our hero to stop the day…

edit: I just noticed that the new signed extention also now says that there is no reqs, just if the deal fails then the fee must be paid, so there isn’t any CMA must approve in the UK

[euV2]

@KakkaKarrotKake

Just because they had to divest something here doesn’t mean they will need to in the future provided these regulators aren’t being dicks for the sake of it

Yeah, that’s the thing there are no guarantees about the future, I don’t think MS can go in with 100% confidence anymore even if the numbers are in their favor.

MS will be very close to being the top gaming revenue generator after this deal, every argument will then become about consolidation. Hopefully as 2-3 years go by, the growth projections for cloud etc prove that CMA were wrong.

[CallMeCraig]

@TechnicPuppet

I think MS will have learned an amazing amount from this acquisition. Not just the gaming side either, the whole company. Every email, phone call with another company, public statement, interview etc matters. You need to get advice beforehand about current regulatory trends and from even before you acquire you need to be very clear and very careful about what you are aiming for and act that way.

I dont think this is new information for Microsoft who had very public antitrust cases in the 90s.

@Searsy82

FTC and DOJ lay out rules for merger review to reflect digital economy (cnbc.com)

without significant changes in law this has not a lot of chance of success but lawyers will be payed very very well

[commanderbuck]

Hmmm Bobby didn’t do the funniest thing possible???

[Daniel]

@commanderbuck

Hmmm Bobby didn’t do the funniest thing possible???

So much for people hating him and wanting him gone right.

[BZERO_ICE]

@KakkaKarrotKake

…ght not need/ask for any remedies, if they do buy another publisher it will be far smaller than ABK is, let’s assume it’s SEGA based on those internal documents, nothing they have has the same “unicorn” level IP that ABK does Just because they had to divest something here doesn’t mean they will need to in the future provided these regulators aren’t being dicks for the sake of it Plus we don’t actually know what they are divesting yet, whether it’s just ABK cloud rights or if it’s all their cloud stuff in the UK If it’s the former they could always do the same with SEGA if it happens or if it’s the latter then the cloud stuff won’t even be an issue there but regardless, whatever they buy won’t have anywhere near the attention ABK does so I don’t think there’s much to worry about at this stage

Yep. Also if this divestiture gets rid of the UK cloud concern, the CMA would have to move to a console SLC for a subsequent move, which they didn’t go with during the purchase of the biggest publisher. Could be difficult to then do it for the likes of Sega (and especially Paradox) who have hands in many pies outside of console and shouldn’t cause any earthquakes.

[Biggzy (Hassan)]

Oh! So the doomsayers were wrong afterall and ABK is not stupid enough to walk away from the best deal they can get when there is a pathway to completion.

[Daniel]

@Biggzy

Oh! So the doomsayers were wrong afterall and ABK is not stupid enough to walk away from the best deal they can get when there is a pathway to completion.

ABK would’ve had to start from scratch with a new buyer and they’ll be like fuck that.

[No-1HoloLens-Fan]

@Sparda3g

https://twitter.com/idlesloth84_/status/1681694791153639425?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ

What they gonna discuss?

69 fps?

Alex will be irritated about the bad frame time graphs

[TechnicPuppet]

@Rsebi

None of this matters, they’re both powerless to stop mergers without going to federal court

If the rules were strictly enforced going forwards Sony wouldn’t be able to buy even a studio I wouldn’t think.

[howlingmosquito (mosquito)]

Dont forget

[BRiT]

@Searsy82

…cal mergers should not create market structures that foreclose competition.

Mergers should not entrench or extend a dominant position.

Mergers should not further a trend toward concentration.

When a merger is part of a series of multiple acquisitions, the agencies may examine the whole series.

When a merger involves a multi-sided platform, the agencies examine competition between platforms, on a platform, or to displace a platform.

When a merger involves competing buyers, the agencies examine whether it may substantially lessen competition for workers or other sellers.

When an acquisition involves partial ownership or minority interests, the agencies examine its impact on competition.

Mergers should not otherwise substantially lessen competition or tend to create a monopoly.

So pretty much no mergers according to FTC and DOJ.

[mcolt]

https://twitter.com/HoegLaw/status/1681673142064885761

[anon74828371]

https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1681714673651941390?t=d4g1kZN_rRdB0kd6AyX3Ng&s=19

[Sparda3g]

@anon74828371

https://twitter.com/charlieINTEL/status/1681714673651941390?t=d4g1kZN_rRdB0kd6AyX3Ng&s=19

A new Era is slowly opening up.

[Hue]

@Shadowgasm

Think of it as taking two roads to reach the same destination. One road is shorter and has less bandits, but does have an annoying toll that you fundamentally disagree with and find ridiculous. The other road is longer, doesn’t have the toll, but does have more bandits and also taking it might anger the local lord who might decide to not trade as freely with you in the future.

Not sure why I used a medieval analogy, but I think it works.

Ha, it’s a really good analogy.

My only concern is how big this ‘toll’ is going to be to UK gamers and if it’s a daily occurrence! I wonder if there will be a way to remove/amend the ‘toll’ in the future.

[Sparda3g]

https://twitter.com/idlesloth84_/status/1681722933796896768?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ

[binarymelon]

@Sparda3g

snip…

Lina Khan right now…