Probably not EA at all, but Capcom could be a possibility. I still bet on Capcom.
I do wonder if EA can consider merger with WB as an option. (Though main issue with WB is their debt)
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EA is probably more likely tbh. MS have tried to buy them multiple times before and EA are currently looking for a buyer.
EA also have more games than Capcom in the top sellers every year, thus creating more potential GP subs.
That said I could also see EA merging with someone like TakeTwo. EA Sports and 2K Sports would be huge.
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By the same logic, Microsoft would never approach Bethesda because they donât have top sellers every year 
There is more to it than just âtop sellersâ.
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Hopefully after the ABK goes through we get a drip drip of independent studio aquistion from Microsoft I personally donât like the gap between zenimax and ABK deals.
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Itâs not just the frequency with EA but the volume.
I think you know Bethesda is a special case scenario, Skyrim is still popular today. They donât release games often but they have the biggest player bases.
- FIFA (now FC) as a franchise have sold over 350 million copies to date.
- Sims have now sold over 200 million copies.
- Need for Speed sold over 150 million copies.
- Madden NFL sold over 130 million copies.
Anyway this wasnât my main point which was EA are currently looking to sale, whereas I doubt Capcom are. In addition MS have tried to buy EA multiple times before.
Donât jump the gun yet. Youâre getting there though.
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I wouldnât read much into this.
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Iâm just playing. Still expecting this to close this year however
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My expectations is that EU inquiry will open up soon. Looking at the previous big acquisition (Nuance) by MS EU should be coming soon.
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They also have to do the âphase 1/phase 2â thing right?
The nuance acquisition was supposed to be completed by end of 2021. It was announced in April 2021 and in June of the same year the FTC approved it. Then in November EU said the same.
It wasnt until December of 2021 where the UK CMA would probe the MS/Nuance acquisition and delayed it for a couple of months (it closed until march 2021 when they didnt found reasons to go beyond phase 1).
But the UKâs probe of the nuance acquisition was done in a different timetable:
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In December 13th they invited parties to comment on the deal.
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On January 12th 2022 they launched the merger inquiry.
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O march it was decided they deal didnt need to go phase 1 and thus was approved.
The Activision acquisition on the other hand has already announced step 1 and step 2 in their inquiry and it wionât be until September where we will find their answer.
Now I dont know if the difference in timing means something but my expectations is that they will go ahead with phase 2 (I dont see being oki doki with the biggest tech acquisition in history so that wouldnt surprised me) And my hopes is that it wont take much to be approved by the CMA due to mutual cooperation between MS and UK regulators. If that doesnt materialize, at worst, it wont be until June 2023 where the acquisition will be completed.
Edit: Forgot to mention that EU regulators started their investigation just one month before they approved it.
Im not entirely sure why people are so worried about this. It is going to go through, it is just going to take time. No amount of fretting, hand wringing, or news nugget mining is going to speed up the process. It will pass when it passes.
Lean back, relax, and play some games.
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Oh yeah totally. In my case I just find it fun to speculate and talk about it!
At the end of the day the deal either goes through or it doesnt and noone in the world knows that.
I think most people are doing it for fun and thereâs nothing wrong about it. M&A is a fun subject once you overcome the mostly boring long texts. I think we entered a period where consolidation will happen quite rapidly and we wonât see this sort of stuff once it settles. Just have fun 
!
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Sorry :c
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NOOOOOOO! :(((
I was referring to government/lawyer documents 
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no problem!! For now lets wait and see what regulator will speak next 
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Maybe itâll get you to start a career in corporate M&A 
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Microsoftâs pending acquisition of Activision Blizzard and related investments and jobs that could be created within the Capitol Region of New York was also discussed during the meeting, two people said. Schumer also pushed Microsoft to invest more in the video game industry of the region when he met with Smith in February of this year.
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That sounds like they want Microsoft to build studios there (New York) I would assume.
Iâm actually surprised how little video game companies are there. Shocked actually. No wonder Shumer wants investment.
Opening a few dev studios there might not be a bad idea
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