Microsoft-Activision-Blizzard Discussion Thread (Part 1)

[TheBrightestSun]

@leburn98

The Target deal of Series S + MW2 for $300 is a crazy deal. I was doing some basic math and if you had two kids that wanted MW2 this holiday, you could either get:

XBOX SERIES S

• 2 x Xbox Series S - $600
• 2 x MW2 digital codes (one of which you could sell) - FREE
• 2 x $70 digital game codes ($140)
• 2 years of Game Pass Ultimate ($360)

VS

PLAYSTATION 5

• 2 x PS5 MW2 bundles ($1120)

" angry Sony noises "

[lighting_rabbit232]

@leburn98

The Target deal of Series S + MW2 for $300 is a crazy deal. I was doing some basic math and if you had two kids that wanted MW2 this holiday, you could either get:

XBOX SERIES S

• 2 x Xbox Series S - $600
• 2 x MW2 digital codes (one of which you could sell) - FREE
• 2 x $70 digital game codes ($140)
• 2 years of Game Pass Ultimate ($360)

VS

PLAYSTATION 5

• 2 x PS5 MW2 bundles ($1120)

smells like a foreclosure strategy to me

[AllianceOfficer]

Anyone remember this chart Sony showed at its investor call? I sent it to the CMA lol. It shows the market leader not only saying they want to take market share, but projecting Sony taking market share to their investors.

This kind of behavoir by a market leader should be a scream for more competition in a market with only 3 real competitors on the console side.

[DARK-PARADISE]

@AllianceOfficer

…Anyone remember this chart Sony showed at its investor call? I sent it to the CMA lol. It shows the market leader not only saying they want to take market share, but projecting Sony taking market share to their investors. This kind of behavoir by a market leader should be a scream for more competition in a market with only 3 real competitors on the console side.

sony-ps5-playstation-5-2.900x900×492 67.8 KB

More than 50% market share is literally an initial characteristic of a monopoly as defined by FTC/DoJ💀

[Daniel]

@TavishHill

Agreed. Many try framing PS+ as if it wasn’t competing with Game Pass due to no Day 1 stuff, but that is a real silly and arbitrary distinction to make. They both def are competing.

Offers a games catalogue	Offers cloud streaming	Offers online play	Monthly fee
PS+	PS+	PS+	PS+
GP	GP	GP	GP

[TheBrightestSun]

@DARK-PARADISE

More than 50% market share is literally an initial characteristic of a monopoly as defined by FTC/DoJ💀

I don’t think that FTC will have any problem wit ABK deal.

Only CMA might be a problem but even then I doubt because even in their unreasonable form there is no legal basis to close the deal or ask for any concessions at all.

[Ace_Maverick]

CMA/Activision Chaos | US Chamber Speaks | Xbox Fan Warns Sony (VL729)

CMA/Activision Chaos | US Chamber Speaks | Xbox Fan Warns Sony (VL729)

[DARK-PARADISE]

@TheBrightestSun

I don’t think that FTC will have any problem wit ABK deal

I’m talking about Sony openly presenting that they target 50%+ market share in the industry which is a characteristic of a monopoly according to FTC and probably other regulatory bodies too.

[TheBrightestSun]

@DARK-PARADISE

I’m talking about Sony openly presenting that they target 50%+ market share in the industry which is a characteristic of a monopoly according to FTC and probably other regulatory bodies too.

I am not sure if 50% is considered a monopoly though. I think there was some formula or something?

Personally I think 70% is a monopoly but it all depends how market is split.

[DARK-PARADISE]

@TheBrightestSun

I am not sure if 50% is considered a monopoly though. I think there was some formula or something?

50% and more is a characteristic. Of course other things will be accounted for before being considered an effective monopoly; like whether their business is projected to grow or stagnate/fail, the number of competitors and the state of competition, the nature of the concentration and what it entails, etc.

[AllianceOfficer]

@TheBrightestSun

I am not sure if 50% is considered a monopoly though. I think there was some formula or something?

Personally I think 70% is a monopoly but it all depends how market is split.

50% plus just appears to be the FTCs tipping point for monopoly.

“Courts look at the firm’s market share, but typically do not find monopoly power if the firm (or a group of firms acting in concert) has less than 50 percent of the sales of a particular product or service within a certain geographic area.”

They go on to talk about a monopoly also needing to exhibit the below characteristics, all of which PS does.

“Exclusionary or predatory acts may include such things as exclusive supply or purchase agreements; tying; predatory pricing; or refusal to deal. These topics are discussed in separate Fact Sheets for Single Firm Conduct.”

And they definitely don’t meet their legitimate monopoly reasons outlined:

"Finally, the monopolist may have a legitimate business justification for behaving in a way that prevents other firms from succeeding in the marketplace. For instance, the monopolist may be competing on the merits in a way that benefits consumers through greater efficiency or a unique set of products or services. "

The FTC outlines their characteristic here. I couldn’t find anything for the CMA.

Monopolization Defined

[TheBrightestSun]

@AllianceOfficer

They go on to talk about a monopoly also needing to exhibit the below characteristics, all of which PS does.

It is actually the most amazing that Sony is clearly engaging in monopolistic practices yet nobody bats an eye.

[Infamy]

On Twitter there are legions of Sony fanboys mass-tweeting and organizing followers and the like-minded hivemind to email the CMA and make multiple emails to stop the deal. One guy even said he was on email #100. I’ve never seen this level of unpaid shilling on my life, lol. These people are delusional.

The crazy part is that there are so many facts that debunk many of the CMA Phase 1 concerns so it’s very easy for someone pro-acquisition to write a long and detailed letter dismantling Sony’s claims, with mountains of factual proof. Which makes me wonder, what are these cultists possibly sending them? After seeing them tweet President Biden, I don’t think their desperation knows any bounds, lol.

I feel bad for the CMA intern looking at their mailbox.

[Daniel]

Quickly someone send this to the CMA, Destiny 2 is more popular than COD and Sony owns it so they have something to compete with COD and they will be ok! /s

[Hue]

@Daniel

Quickly someone send this to the CMA, Destiny 2 is more popular than COD and Sony owns it so they have something to compete with COD and they will be ok! /s

I can’t wait to see what this new Infinity Ward/Bioware Destiny type game is.

[Daniel]

@Hue

I can’t wait to see what this new Infinity Ward/Bioware Destiny type game is.

It’s going to be epic most likely, the gunplay in MW games is the best in the industry imo.

[Hue]

@Daniel

It’s going to be epic most likely, the gunplay in MW games is the best in the industry imo.

I agree, people can say whatever they like about CoD but the gunplay is top notch.

[TheBrightestSun]

@Daniel

It’s going to be epic most likely, the gunplay in MW games is the best in the industry imo.

Yeah, “from creators of Call of Duty” will bring a lot of eyes too

[AllianceOfficer]

@Infamy

On Twitter there are legions of Sony fanboys mass-tweeting and organizing followers and the like-minded hivemind to email the CMA and make multiple emails to stop the deal. One guy even said he was on email #100. I’ve never seen this level of unpaid shilling on my life, lol. These people are delusional.

I can’t believe that lol. If the person legitimately spent all the time to make 100 emails, Im floored. I could write a program in less than an hour that could send thousands. Wonder how much time the person spent

[PCPrincipal]

@TheBrightestSun

It is actually the most amazing that Sony is clearly engaging in monopolistic practices yet nobody bats an eye.

Power of greasing the hands.