BREAKING: Microsoft Acquired Activision/Blizzard For $70 Billion - Page 12

charmedangelin · 08-12-22, 19:28

I knew it, everyone kept trying to tell me what was up.

Microsoft can appeal, but I'm willing to bet a judge will strike it down. Microsoft offering those 10 year contracts are what's going to backfire. The fact that Microsoft is going to be nice and not destroy the competition with contracts shows just how much power Microsoft will inherit from this merger.

Microsoft is no small company, with Windows computers and other tech investments Microsoft outclasses Sony and Nintendo by wide margins. I'm glad it's getting blocked.

rewak · 08-12-22, 19:34

I do love that they brought up the Bethesda/Zenimax acquisition when talking about why they're moving forward with their action.

Quote:

Microsoft decided to make several of Bethesda's titles including Starfield and Redfall Microsoft exclusives despite assurances it had given to European antitrust authorities that it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles.

Literally what happened, the day that deal closed they announced everything going forward would be exclusive despite them saying in the press and to the investigating authorities that it wouldn't do that. That's why their statements and offers of deals carry no weight, they've literally backpedaled on this exact thing before. They also just this week announced a price hike on all their games specifically singling out Redfall and Starfield. I can't imagine that's going to be a good look for them

charmedangelin · 08-12-22, 19:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by rewak

I do love that they brought up the Bethesda/Zenimax acquisition when talking about why they're moving forward with their action.

Literally what happened, the day that deal closed they announced everything going forward would be exclusive despite them saying in the press and to the investigating authorities that it wouldn't do that. That's why their statements and offers of deals carry no weight, they've literally backpedaled on this exact thing before. They also just this week announced a price hike on all their games specifically singling out Redfall and Starfield. I can't imagine that's going to be a good look for them

Exactly, no judge in their right mind would approve of this deal.

lance6439 · 08-12-22, 20:34

Glad this will end up flopping. Poor Microsoft fanboys.

charmedangelin · 08-12-22, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by lance6439

Glad this will end up flopping. Poor Microsoft fanboys.

They are throwing a massive tantrum on Twitter.

killchan · 08-12-22, 21:04

"(...)enabling it to harm competition in high-performance gaming consoles and subscription services by denying or degrading rivals’ access to its popular content"

Isn't this what competition is all about?
Company A makes good stuff, and Company B will be motivated to make good stuff as a result.
No?

rewak · 08-12-22, 21:15

There comes a point where one competitor owns so much of a market that it crushes that ethic, that's what this is about. It's like the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger that has caused total havok in the US, both those entities combining made them a monopoly in the market and they've been abusing their position wildly as a result. The idea of organisations like the FTC is to prevent monopolies from being established in the first place, and that's what's on debate here and in pretty much every other market around the world because this is being investigated worldwide. If MS were to acquire Activision/Blizzard on top of all the other developers they've been acquiring recently would that tip the scales and make them more powerful in the market than their competition could hope to be with the resources they have available (resources here being development studios and just talent in the field)? That's what the debate is going to be.

killchan · 08-12-22, 21:25

In other words, Sony is confirming that people bother with PS+ only because it's mandatory to play COD and Fortnite online.

rewak · 08-12-22, 21:38

That's one aspect of it sure, but remember Activision Blizzard own a lot of IPs that appear on Playstation platforms. CoD, Overwatch, Diablo, Destiny, Tony Hawk, Crash, Spyro, there's a lot of big brands in there with a wide reaching audience. Don't forget as well Activision acts as a publisher much like Zenimax, they published Sekiro with FromSoft for example, so they also have deals outside of IPs they own outright. CoD is one aspect of a much larger picture.

charmedangelin · 08-12-22, 21:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by killchan

In other words, Sony is confirming that people bother with PS+ only because it's mandatory to play COD and Fortnite online.

Even Microsoft acknowledged that Games Pass isn't making them any money. This is why Microsoft badly wants this deal. If they can get the vast library of games that Activision owns onto gamepass than more people will buy into it and Microsoft can finally make profit.

08-12-22, 19:28	#111
charmedangelin Tomb Raider Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: USA Posts: 20,935	I knew it, everyone kept trying to tell me what was up. Microsoft can appeal, but I'm willing to bet a judge will strike it down. Microsoft offering those 10 year contracts are what's going to backfire. The fact that Microsoft is going to be nice and not destroy the competition with contracts shows just how much power Microsoft will inherit from this merger. Microsoft is no small company, with Windows computers and other tech investments Microsoft outclasses Sony and Nintendo by wide margins. I'm glad it's getting blocked. __________________ Always Pondering

08-12-22, 20:34	#114
lance6439 Legend Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: UTOPIA ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡° ) Posts: 32,985	Glad this will end up flopping. Poor Microsoft fanboys. __________________ You'll never get away; I'm HOT on your trail

08-12-22, 21:04	#116
killchan Professor Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Press "survival instinct" to find me Posts: 3,215	"(...)enabling it to harm competition in high-performance gaming consoles and subscription services by denying or degrading rivals’ access to its popular content" Isn't this what competition is all about? Company A makes good stuff, and Company B will be motivated to make good stuff as a result. No? __________________ Realism isn't an achievement. It's a choice

08-12-22, 21:25	#118
killchan Professor Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Press "survival instinct" to find me Posts: 3,215	In other words, Sony is confirming that people bother with PS+ only because it's mandatory to play COD and Fortnite online. __________________ Realism isn't an achievement. It's a choice

08-12-22, 21:15	#117
rewak Professor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 4,419	There comes a point where one competitor owns so much of a market that it crushes that ethic, that's what this is about. It's like the Ticketmaster/Live Nation merger that has caused total havok in the US, both those entities combining made them a monopoly in the market and they've been abusing their position wildly as a result. The idea of organisations like the FTC is to prevent monopolies from being established in the first place, and that's what's on debate here and in pretty much every other market around the world because this is being investigated worldwide. If MS were to acquire Activision/Blizzard on top of all the other developers they've been acquiring recently would that tip the scales and make them more powerful in the market than their competition could hope to be with the resources they have available (resources here being development studios and just talent in the field)? That's what the debate is going to be.

08-12-22, 21:38	#119
rewak Professor Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: UK Posts: 4,419	That's one aspect of it sure, but remember Activision Blizzard own a lot of IPs that appear on Playstation platforms. CoD, Overwatch, Diablo, Destiny, Tony Hawk, Crash, Spyro, there's a lot of big brands in there with a wide reaching audience. Don't forget as well Activision acts as a publisher much like Zenimax, they published Sekiro with FromSoft for example, so they also have deals outside of IPs they own outright. CoD is one aspect of a much larger picture.