Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard Discussion Thread (Part 1)

[pg2g]

@PoderickPayne

I honestly don’t see a benefit of seperating Activision from Blizzard. Nor do I really see the benefit to not doing so

I imagine they would just keep it all under the same publishing arm, except now they own it all. And it’s not likey they will ever want to sell one of them away. And if somehow they do, they still can

Only real reason I see to make any change is that the guy at the top will be removed. So either the replace him or separate them.

[Jorge_Alexander_Acos (Jorge Alexander Acosta Duarte)]

@shingi_70

Is this a good number for immortal in a month?

My understandigng of mobile gaming is that, eventhough it could be a little bit higher, those are still very good numbers. Specially considering it hasnt launch on China yet but it could take a while due to a controversy.

For comparison: Apex Legend mobile with twice the playerbase (21 millions) of Diablo Inmortal “only” managed to produce $11.6 millions on its first month.

[DeoGame (Farewell)]

I think ABK remains ABK to reduce redundancies and layoffs.

However, I also think Blizzard gets more autonomy. Ybarra has to answer to Kotick right now… I don’t see him having to answer to a new ABK leader who answers to Phil. He will just answer to Phil directly.

But for publishing, finances, benefits, etc. I expect it will largely be business as usual. Basically Zenimax again, but with a more hands on approach.

[Jorge_Alexander_Acos (Jorge Alexander Acosta Duarte)]

Activision Blizzard to Use Part of its $250m Diversity Fund to 'Uplevel' New...

[Jorge_Alexander_Acos (Jorge Alexander Acosta Duarte)]

Statement Of Preliminary Issues Released For Microsoft’s Acquisition Of...

The Commission invites interested parties to provide comments on the likely competitive effects of the proposed acquisition. Submissions can be sent by email to registrar@comcom.govt.nz with the reference ‘Microsoft/Activision’ in the subject line. Parties should provide a public version of their submission at the same time for publication on the Commission’s case register. Any submissions should be received by close of business on 27 July 2022.

The Commission is currently scheduled to make a decision on the application by 11 August 2022. However, this date may be extended as the investigation progresses

New Zealand now. This is what they think about M&A:

https://comcom.govt.nz/business/merging-or-acquiring-a-company

This specially caught my attention

We can also grant an authorisation for an acquisition that would result in a substantial lessening of competition, if the public benefits resulting from the acquisition are found to outweigh the competitive harm.

[Boosted_Gear]

@Jorge_Alexander_Acos

…t.nz with the reference ‘Microsoft/Activision’ in the subject line. Parties should provide a public version of their submission at the same time for publication on the Commission’s case register. Any submissions should be received by close of business on 27 July 2022.

The Commission is currently scheduled to make a decision on the application by 11 August 2022. However, this date may be extended as the investigation progresses

New Zealand now. This is what they think about M&A: Commerce Commission - Merging or acquiring a company This specially caught my attention

We can also grant an authorisation for an acquisition that would result in a substantial lessening of competition, if the public benefits resulting from the acquisition are found to outweigh the competitive harm.

Things are moving

[Predrag]

Hopefully this could be done sooner than originally projected.

I’m really curious to see where are they now in the ‘middle phase’ of the whole thing.

[DARK-PARADISE]

What would it mean if let’s say some countries’ regulators object to this acquisition while the vast majority of others give it the green light?

[binarymelon]

Is there any reason to believe that Activision Blizzard games won’t launch day one on Game Pass (apart from pre-existing deals with PlayStation)? Maybe I’m mis-remembering but it seems like any discussion about it has always been very hand wavey.

[DARK-PARADISE]

@binarymelon

Is there any reason to believe that Activision Blizzard games won’t launch day one on Game Pass (apart from pre-existing deals with PlayStation)? Maybe I’m mis-remembering but it seems like any discussion about it has always been very hand wavey.

CoD - maybe, who knows what the marketing deal with PS could entail.

Blizzard games - Yes, definitely, just depending on when the acquisition goes through. They already have co-marketing for Blizzard’s games.

[binarymelon]

@DARK-PARADISE

CoD - maybe, who knows what the marketing deal with PS could entail.

Blizzard games - Yes, definitely, just depending on when the acquisition goes through. They already have co-marketing for Blizzard’s games.

Diablo 4 was something that kind of gave me pause. Why not put some sort of deal in place so it could have been announced as day one at the showcase last month.

[DARK-PARADISE]

@binarymelon

Diablo 4 was something that kind of gave me pause. Why not put some sort of deal in place so it could have been announced as day one at the showcase last month.

They don’t own them yet. Yes they possibly could have had a deal and announced it at the showcase but that could be additional and needles complications for the acquisition. Wouldn’t it be some kind of conflict of interest or something of that nature?

[Hue]

@DARK-PARADISE

What would it mean if let’s say some countries’ regulators object to this acquisition while the vast majority of others give it the green light?

[Cairnst (Bill Cairns)]

@DARK-PARADISE

They don’t own them yet. Yes they possibly could have had a deal and announced it at the showcase but that could be additional and needles complications for the acquisition. Wouldn’t it be some kind of conflict of interest or something of that nature?

If I understand it correctly Microsoft and Activision are perfectly allowed to make deals of this sort, they’d just have to make the same deal they’d make if the acquisition weren’t happening. It’s probably not worth spending a big wad of money to announce Diablo 4 as a day one game pass title when they can just wait and it’ll probably end up a day one game pass title anyway when the acquisition closes if the timing works out.

[Paxton]

@binarymelon

Is there any reason to believe that Activision Blizzard games won’t launch day one on Game Pass (apart from pre-existing deals with PlayStation)? Maybe I’m mis-remembering but it seems like any discussion about it has always been very hand wavey.

The deal isn’t finished and they 99,99% expect to be finished before Diablo 4 releases, so they won’t spend money on something they know they will get anyway.

[Jorge_Alexander_Acos (Jorge Alexander Acosta Duarte)]

@Jorge_Alexander_Acos

…t.nz with the reference ‘Microsoft/Activision’ in the subject line. Parties should provide a public version of their submission at the same time for publication on the Commission’s case register. Any submissions should be received by close of business on 27 July 2022.

The Commission is currently scheduled to make a decision on the application by 11 August 2022. However, this date may be extended as the investigation progresses

New Zealand now. This is what they think about M&A: Commerce Commission - Merging or acquiring a company This specially caught my attention

We can also grant an authorisation for an acquisition that would result in a substantial lessening of competition, if the public benefits resulting from the acquisition are found to outweigh the competitive harm.

Forgot to mention that MS was the one who pushed this on June the 16th https://comcom.govt.nz/news-and-media/media-releases/2022/microsoft-seeks-clearance-to-acquire-activision-blizzard

The Commerce Commission has received a clearance application in relation to the proposed acquisition by Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft), via a wholly owned subsidiary, of Activision Blizzard Inc (Activision). Both parties are developers, publishers and distributors of video games for PC, gaming consoles and mobile platforms.

They really want this done as soon as possible.

@DARK-PARADISE

What would it mean if let’s say some countries’ regulators object to this acquisition while the vast majority of others give it the green light?

Give some time and I will try to find info that could help us understand possible scenarios. I’veen reading a lot about the Disney/Fox deal, Microsoft/Nuance deal (which was also probed by the UK CMA), Nvidia/Arm deal and I’ve been following the FTC’s situation and regulation around the world and (will later explain the importance of this :3).

[howlingmosquito (mosquito)]

@binarymelon

Is there any reason to believe that Activision Blizzard games won’t launch day one on Game Pass

No, save Overwatch 2 because its F2P.

@binarymelon

Diablo 4 was something that kind of gave me pause. Why not put some sort of deal in place so it could have been announced as day one at the showcase last month.

Possibly because it could potentially be used as evidence as Microsoft influencing AB before the deal closes.

[AllianceOfficer]

@Jorge_Alexander_Acos

They really want this done as soon as possible.

Yeah they have other stuff to buy

[TheBrightestSun]

@AllianceOfficer

Yeah they have other stuff to buy

Yeah, I wonder what negotiations were delayed due to ABK deal.

[AllianceOfficer]

@TheBrightestSun

Yeah, I wonder what negotiations were delayed due to ABK deal.

EA or Capcom hopefully