Xbox boss Phil Spencer has had a busy few months not only promoting Xbox's upcoming lineup at the recent showcase but also attending the Microsoft v FTC hearing. Now that the acquisition has been given the all-clear in the United States, Phil has taken the time to thank Xbox's staff and teams for their own support.
While normally an internal memo like this wouldn't be made public, The Verge has obtained access, sharing it in full. Phil mentions how "grateful" the team is that the court rejected the FTC's claims and reiterates how the goal is to expand player access, thanking everyone at Xbox for supporting the acquisition.
Here's a sample of what Phil had to say in his email:
"We’re grateful that, upon a review of the evidence and witness testimony, the Court rejected the FTC’s claims that our acquisition would harm consumers. The evidence showed the deal is good for the industry and that the FTC’s claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and the cloud do not reflect the realities of the gaming market."
"After today’s decision, we are turning our focus to the UK. As you may be aware, a few months ago, the UK Competition and Markets Authority recommended that the deal be prohibited. We disagree with the CMA’s concerns and have challenged its decision on appeal. At the same time, however, we are considering how the transaction might be modified to address the CMA’s concerns in a way that is acceptable to the CMA."
"Thank you to everyone who has devoted their time and dedication in support of our acquisition. We embarked on this deal with a clear vision for meeting players where they are, and with today’s decision by the Court, we take an important step forward in bringing this vision to life."
The Xbox head has been playing Nobody Saves The World over the past few hours, and when one player known as 'JMurker315' messaged the boss to thank him for putting the brand in such a good position, he actually got a reply from Phil's 'P3' account - responding with a "thanks" while acknowledging the "team effort" it took to get this one across the line.
Although things have been wrapped up with the FTC, there are new reports the FTC could potentially appeal. There's also some work left to do with the deal in the UK, with the CMA recently blocking the deal and now welcoming some fresh proposals. Following the FTC's loss, Phil shared a series of tweets, mentioning how he was proud of Xbox's efforts to expand player access and choice.