Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard Discussion Thread |OT4| - Dawn of the Final Day, Deal is done!

[Staffy]

@Sparda3g

https://x.com/tomwarren/status/1705168519342465470?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ

Holy fuuuuuuuck. So still not done yet.

[Sparda3g]

@Staffy

Holy fuuuuuuuck. So still not done yet.

We already established to be the case. Lol. Last time, they were iffy about it. Here, they’re good so the endgame is now upon us. Unless the whole CMA team gets replaced with new faces that suddenly hates Ubisoft and decline at all cost. Knocking on wood on that one…

[strawman]

@Zappy5

Except well before that there was plenty of commentary that the cloud issue would be harder for ms to remedy. It was not like it wasn’t discussed. I think even I had posted on here that cloud was going to be a more difficult issue to solve given the CMA’s remit to look at future and emerging markets in the way they did. But pretty sure analysts also mentioned it as a problem in the run up.

The problem is that the CMA wanted the deal blocked no matter what. The final report from April was still 90% about its impact on Sony and Nintendo. The CMA never even questioned other cloud market participants, never asked around what they thought about the proposed behavioral remedies.

The current remedy of divesting the cloud rights would in most likelihood have been deemed insufficient back in April. It’s only after applying the political pressure on the CMA (and the CAT not being oblivious to the CMA’s bullshit) that they relented.

[Resist]

@strawman

he deal blocked no matter what. The final report from April was still 90% about its impact on Sony and Nintendo. The CMA never even questioned other cloud market participants, neve

I’m sorry but MS nor it’s lawyers are paid to take commentary seriously. They have had to get this deal past 40+ regulators and cloud was a scant worry the majority of time, and the CMA wasn’t all that concerned about it till very recently in the timescale.

[Sparda3g]

Would you say this is a greatest comeback?

[biglo25]

@Zappy5

Exactly what I was wondering. Has nothing to do with the takeover and I’ve long since blocked his ‘insights ‘on social media. I don’t know why we’d start posting him here.

almost didn’t recognize him at first without the stupid apple ar people thing

[howlingmosquito (mosquito)]

@Sparda3g

Would you say this is a greatest comeback?

The biggest comeback since Kate Upton!

[Swanlee]

@Staffy

I’m seeing shit like “can’t wait for CoD at 30fps and having to fast travel to get to enemies.”

And people wonder why we don’t really like PlayStation fans.

Well after this the first party for Xbox will be so big we can live off of that alone. So the salty bitchy Sony fans can just fuck off.

[AllianceOfficer]

Whoa!!! I’m so happy! Microsoft all in on gaming and locked in for the long haul for sure now

[AllianceOfficer]

Wait… what’s this part mean

[Sparda3g]

https://x.com/tomwarren/status/1705188122240094266?s=46&t=O_AGT9SEnlptKOF_2SxtqQ

[strawman]

@AllianceOfficer

…Wait… what’s this part mean 20230922_0747551080×1082 265 KB

It simply means the merger cannot happen in absence of the proposed structural remedies of divesting the cloud rights to Ubisoft as it would result in significant lessening of competition.

[Thebaconlife]

Guys it’s approved

[Staffy]

@Thebaconlife

…Guys it’s approved IMG_8839949×802 93.1 KB

[AllianceOfficer]

@leburn98

…lc

Sale of Purchaser’s Cloud Streaming Rights for Activision Games and Related DLC by Purchaser - Need to read this more

Audit Rights- purchaser can audit MS once a year to verify compliance

Marketing - parties should make commercially reasonable efforts to ensure license or rights cover the use of marketing materials from the purchaser

Terms and Termination - the party can’t terminate the deal due to any breach by the purchaser

5 days to propose a trustee on closes and MS will pay for it (seems normal)

MS can’t buy % or all of Ubisoft for 10 years

CMA can extend the time periods in the undertakings ??? " The CMA may, in response to a written request from the Parties, or otherwise at its own discretion, grant an extension to any time period referred to in these undertakings."

The CMA could extend that time period per the last bullet point.

[hexbacon]

@AllianceOfficer

The CMA could extend that time period per the last bullet point.

It’s not happening

[Sparda3g]

If CMA did respond similar to last time alas “concerning on cloud” part, then it would be worth worrying. But since not, it’s basically a when.

[Zip]

@AllianceOfficer

…Wait… what’s this part mean 20230922_0747551080×1082 265 KB

Edit: While the below IS part of what was published, for whatever reason the CMA decided to have the part where they say that they believe the additional considerations of the legal contract that have been made now DO meet their needs in a separate doc. Would have saved some hassle if they would just have their draft that was published be up to date at the time they actually published it or include a foot note that this has been superseded, or whatever.

Original:

Reading over the actual text of the document, it looks like they still have some concerns that Microsoft can force Ubisoft to somehow give them an edge that would result in an SLC. Microsoft and Activision have until the 29th to respond to this concern. It’s not over yet.

[BadMoodJones (Prem K. Singh)]

Bro all this tells me is that I’d make mad bank if I got good at politics

‘Vasco, add 10 points to diplomacy’

[Sparda3g]

@Zip

… Reading over the actual text of the document, it looks like they still have some concerns that Microsoft can force Ubisoft to somehow give them an edge that would result in an SLC. Microsoft and Activision have until the 29th to respond to this concern. It’s not over yet. Screenshot_20230922-0845321800×1350 383 KB

This is basically, “You can leave jail unless you accept a condition and that is slap on the wrist.” Microsoft got this.