A day one release is definitely still a possibility. I definitely don't rule it out completely at this point. It really just depends on what MS intends to do about the FTC as the CMA and EU are basically a done deal at this point. The FTC has always had a very weak case and there have been statements made in recent months that MS intends to go ahead with the deal even without the FTC's approval which actually makes perfect sense given the weakness of the case and the fact that the contractual deadline is July 18th, well before the start of the FTC's hearing. They really have nothing to lose.
As for the money MS could make by not bringing it to Game Pass right away...this was a 68 billion dollar deal, after acquiring Bethesda for 7.5 billion. MS is playing the long game right now with these acquisitions and MS has plenty of cash. After the weak 2022 that Xbox had in regards to exclusives, I think MS would take the good will of releasing it on Game Pass as soon as possible over the money it could make with it by not releasing it right away.
We'll see soon enough, but I wouldn't completely rule out a day one release at this point. Its certainly within the realm of possibility.
In regards to owning the IP and being able to do what it wants with them, including putting Diablo IV on Game Pass, it is absolutely immediate. The second the deal is finalized, Activision legally becomes owned by MS and those IP's are MS's to do with as it pleases. Topics dealing with stock and board members and such don't change that one bit. MS still legally owns Activision and every single IP it owns the second the deal is finalized and again, the way its looking right now, that will happen anywhere in-between May and July 18th, depending on when the EU approves and what MS intends to do in regards to the FTC.
MS risks losing upwards of 3 billion dollars if the deal doesn't close by the July 18th deadline. If that isn't incentive enough to close without the FTC's approval, I have no idea what is. I expect Diablo IV to be on Game Pass by mid to late summer, at the latest.
Extending the deadline doesn't mean they pushed back. They just wanted more time to review the deal. There has been very little pushback from the EU. They didn't even require any concessions in regards to COD. They were the one regulatory body that didn't fall for Sony's BS. There has been practically zero pushback from the EU compared to the FTC and CMA.
No it doesn't require a long time as both companies have already had well over a year to get all of this sorted out. Everything that your talking about dealing with the stock and such, that has absolutely nothing to do with MS's actual ownership of the company and IP and its ability to do what it wants with it once the deal goes into effect, which will happen as soon as the deal is approved. You act like MS and Activision have just sat back the last year+ doing nothing. Everything that needed to be signed has been signed, everything needing to be done has been done, everything is already set up and ready to go and to think it will take a year before MS can touch IP that it rightfully owns the minute the deal is finalized just isnt true at all.
The Bethesda deal flew right through regulators so that deal didn't have the year+ that the Activision deal has had to get everything worked out. MS and Activision have not been sitting on their hands the last year+ waiting to do anything until regulators approved. Quite the contrary.
Activision and MS have a contractual deadline of July 18th, which is the main reason why MS will likely move forward without the FTC's approval given how weak their case is. So it wont be a year until this is finalized. It will very likely be finalized soon after the CMA and EU approve the deal and before the July 18th deadline. They will be free to do what they want with Diablo IV from that point forward. This deal has been officially in motion for a long time now.
@JONOFTHEJONS The deadline for the EU is May 22nd. The court case for the FTC is scheduled to start Aug 2nd. The CMA will approve it by Wednesday. The EU will approve it shortly thereafter. I would be shocked if they actually waited until May 22nd. My guess would be a week or two tops after the CMA approves. The EU didn't even care about Sony's complaints and didn't even ask for remedies in regards to that aspect of the deal.
The FTC...they have no case and MS knows it so expect a deal to be made between the FTC and MS shortly after the CMA approves as well. If the FTC is standing its ground and is unwilling to concede, expect MS to just go forward without the FTC's approval. The only way the FTC could stop this case was with a preliminary injunction and they chose not to get one in this case. So MS is free to proceed right up until a federal judge tells them to stop, which is simply never going to happen. Waiting for the FTC hearing to start doesn't benefit MS at all in this instance.
@PeteW Yeah to be honest, I sub to Game Pass much more for AA and Indie games these days than I do for AAA. Hell, I am enjoying AA and indie games more these days than I do AAA.
Its never going to happen so I am not concerned by it one way or the other. Yes, games lose sales by being on Game Pass. That is a given, but lets not forget the other side of that equation, that being 30+ million subscribers paying a monthly fee. Its not like the lost game sales is money out the window period. I expect Game Pass to get upwards of 50-60 million subscribers before it really starts to max out at the end of this generation. Thats a lot of cheddar coming in monthly.
This was the one true hurdle with this case and it will go through. The EU will pass it soon after and the FTC...well, their case is a joke and MS may very well just proceed without FTC approval right up until a federal judge shuts it down, which will never happen. I expect the FTC to withdraw its case in the next month or so.
The deal is going through as it absolutely should have all along.
Couldn't care less what others say about Game Pass. I absolutely love the service. In fact, it has reinvigorated my love for gaming. I was losing interest in gaming more and more the last few years before subbing to Game Pass. I am gaming more now than I have in a long time. Love trying out a bunch of new titles a couple times a month.
As for the AAA vs AA/Indie debate...people can keep the AAA's. I still play a few here and there but AAA winds up leading to disappointment more times than not these days. I have had FAR FAR more enjoyment the last 2 years with AA and indies. I will be booting up Starfield day 1 tho...
Its not me. Its the entire scientific community. A simple google search will give you literally 1000 reputable science sites that will all tell you the same thing. Learn from this or continue making inaccurate statements. Doesn't matter to me.
"Water is not wet because wetness arises from the interaction between a liquid and a solid surface. In other words, wetness is a property that occurs when water or another liquid comes into contact with a solid object."
Waiting for Game Pass for this one. I am expecting the FTC to drop its case by July so very close to the launch date. There is even a chance MS proceeds with the deal without the FTC's approval. Either way, I am expecting this to drop on Game Pass near the launch date so gonna hold off on buying it.
Ah, to each their own. Personally, I don't care much for achievements. It was a great idea, its just poorly implemented most of the time. When done right it can significantly add to a game and the time spent playing a game. It can even get you to play a game a different way and do things in a game you never would have done otherwise. Those cases are rare in my experience. Seems like achievements are just an afterthought in most cases. Adding easy achievements to your profile just cheapens it imo. I respect someone that has 50k gamer score with quality games and some legit achievements much more so than someone that has 150k with a bunch of games played solely for easy achievements.
A fun addition to the game overall. I agree with the 8/10 score and ultimately, I have enjoyed every single DLC for the Horizon series to date. I do love me some Forza Horizon...
Comments 469
Re: UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
@Moonglow
A day one release is definitely still a possibility. I definitely don't rule it out completely at this point. It really just depends on what MS intends to do about the FTC as the CMA and EU are basically a done deal at this point. The FTC has always had a very weak case and there have been statements made in recent months that MS intends to go ahead with the deal even without the FTC's approval which actually makes perfect sense given the weakness of the case and the fact that the contractual deadline is July 18th, well before the start of the FTC's hearing. They really have nothing to lose.
As for the money MS could make by not bringing it to Game Pass right away...this was a 68 billion dollar deal, after acquiring Bethesda for 7.5 billion. MS is playing the long game right now with these acquisitions and MS has plenty of cash. After the weak 2022 that Xbox had in regards to exclusives, I think MS would take the good will of releasing it on Game Pass as soon as possible over the money it could make with it by not releasing it right away.
We'll see soon enough, but I wouldn't completely rule out a day one release at this point. Its certainly within the realm of possibility.
Re: UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
@NEStalgia
In regards to owning the IP and being able to do what it wants with them, including putting Diablo IV on Game Pass, it is absolutely immediate. The second the deal is finalized, Activision legally becomes owned by MS and those IP's are MS's to do with as it pleases. Topics dealing with stock and board members and such don't change that one bit. MS still legally owns Activision and every single IP it owns the second the deal is finalized and again, the way its looking right now, that will happen anywhere in-between May and July 18th, depending on when the EU approves and what MS intends to do in regards to the FTC.
MS risks losing upwards of 3 billion dollars if the deal doesn't close by the July 18th deadline. If that isn't incentive enough to close without the FTC's approval, I have no idea what is. I expect Diablo IV to be on Game Pass by mid to late summer, at the latest.
Re: UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
@theduckofdeath
Extending the deadline doesn't mean they pushed back. They just wanted more time to review the deal. There has been very little pushback from the EU. They didn't even require any concessions in regards to COD. They were the one regulatory body that didn't fall for Sony's BS. There has been practically zero pushback from the EU compared to the FTC and CMA.
Re: UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
@NEStalgia
No it doesn't require a long time as both companies have already had well over a year to get all of this sorted out. Everything that your talking about dealing with the stock and such, that has absolutely nothing to do with MS's actual ownership of the company and IP and its ability to do what it wants with it once the deal goes into effect, which will happen as soon as the deal is approved. You act like MS and Activision have just sat back the last year+ doing nothing. Everything that needed to be signed has been signed, everything needing to be done has been done, everything is already set up and ready to go and to think it will take a year before MS can touch IP that it rightfully owns the minute the deal is finalized just isnt true at all.
The Bethesda deal flew right through regulators so that deal didn't have the year+ that the Activision deal has had to get everything worked out. MS and Activision have not been sitting on their hands the last year+ waiting to do anything until regulators approved. Quite the contrary.
Re: UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
@NEStalgia
Activision and MS have a contractual deadline of July 18th, which is the main reason why MS will likely move forward without the FTC's approval given how weak their case is. So it wont be a year until this is finalized. It will very likely be finalized soon after the CMA and EU approve the deal and before the July 18th deadline. They will be free to do what they want with Diablo IV from that point forward. This deal has been officially in motion for a long time now.
Re: UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
@JONOFTHEJONS The deadline for the EU is May 22nd. The court case for the FTC is scheduled to start Aug 2nd. The CMA will approve it by Wednesday. The EU will approve it shortly thereafter. I would be shocked if they actually waited until May 22nd. My guess would be a week or two tops after the CMA approves. The EU didn't even care about Sony's complaints and didn't even ask for remedies in regards to that aspect of the deal.
The FTC...they have no case and MS knows it so expect a deal to be made between the FTC and MS shortly after the CMA approves as well. If the FTC is standing its ground and is unwilling to concede, expect MS to just go forward without the FTC's approval. The only way the FTC could stop this case was with a preliminary injunction and they chose not to get one in this case. So MS is free to proceed right up until a federal judge tells them to stop, which is simply never going to happen. Waiting for the FTC hearing to start doesn't benefit MS at all in this instance.
Re: Poll: How Many Of 2023's Xbox Games With Gold Have You Played So Far?
A big fat whopping zero...
Re: Talking Point: Would You Leave Xbox Game Pass If Microsoft Removed Its Exclusives?
@PeteW Yeah to be honest, I sub to Game Pass much more for AA and Indie games these days than I do for AAA. Hell, I am enjoying AA and indie games more these days than I do AAA.
Re: Talking Point: Would You Leave Xbox Game Pass If Microsoft Removed Its Exclusives?
Its never going to happen so I am not concerned by it one way or the other. Yes, games lose sales by being on Game Pass. That is a given, but lets not forget the other side of that equation, that being 30+ million subscribers paying a monthly fee. Its not like the lost game sales is money out the window period. I expect Game Pass to get upwards of 50-60 million subscribers before it really starts to max out at the end of this generation. Thats a lot of cheddar coming in monthly.
Re: UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
This was the one true hurdle with this case and it will go through. The EU will pass it soon after and the FTC...well, their case is a joke and MS may very well just proceed without FTC approval right up until a federal judge shuts it down, which will never happen. I expect the FTC to withdraw its case in the next month or so.
The deal is going through as it absolutely should have all along.
Re: Xbox Exec: Diversity Of Content Is What Makes Game Pass So Valuable
Couldn't care less what others say about Game Pass. I absolutely love the service. In fact, it has reinvigorated my love for gaming. I was losing interest in gaming more and more the last few years before subbing to Game Pass. I am gaming more now than I have in a long time. Love trying out a bunch of new titles a couple times a month.
As for the AAA vs AA/Indie debate...people can keep the AAA's. I still play a few here and there but AAA winds up leading to disappointment more times than not these days. I have had FAR FAR more enjoyment the last 2 years with AA and indies. I will be booting up Starfield day 1 tho...
Re: Talking Point: Will We See New Xbox Hardware By The End Of 2024?
@somnambulance
Its not me. Its the entire scientific community. A simple google search will give you literally 1000 reputable science sites that will all tell you the same thing. Learn from this or continue making inaccurate statements. Doesn't matter to me.
"Water is not wet because wetness arises from the interaction between a liquid and a solid surface. In other words, wetness is a property that occurs when water or another liquid comes into contact with a solid object."
But like you said, believe whatever you want.
Re: Diablo 4 Performance Targets Confirmed For Xbox Series X And S
Waiting for Game Pass for this one. I am expecting the FTC to drop its case by July so very close to the launch date. There is even a chance MS proceeds with the deal without the FTC's approval. Either way, I am expecting this to drop on Game Pass near the launch date so gonna hold off on buying it.
Re: Talking Point: Will We See New Xbox Hardware By The End Of 2024?
@somnambulance
Nope. Water makes things wet. Water itself is not wet.
Re: Xbox Takes Action Against Game With Easy Achievement Stacks, Developer Denies Breaking Rules
Ah, to each their own. Personally, I don't care much for achievements. It was a great idea, its just poorly implemented most of the time. When done right it can significantly add to a game and the time spent playing a game. It can even get you to play a game a different way and do things in a game you never would have done otherwise. Those cases are rare in my experience. Seems like achievements are just an afterthought in most cases. Adding easy achievements to your profile just cheapens it imo. I respect someone that has 50k gamer score with quality games and some legit achievements much more so than someone that has 150k with a bunch of games played solely for easy achievements.
Re: Talking Point: Will We See New Xbox Hardware By The End Of 2024?
@somnambulance
Water isnt wet...
Re: Sony Blasts CMA's Xbox Verdict As 'Surprising, Unprecedented And Irrational'
Too funny. Jim Ryan continues to make himself look like a fool with this purchase. Just about 3 weeks away from this deal being basically done.
Re: Another Eight Games Will Leave Xbox Game Pass Soon (April 2023)
@Fishticon Quantum Break is not a 1st party game. Its a 3rd party game that was made exclusive. There is a big difference.
Re: Review: Forza Horizon 5 Rally Adventure - A Love Letter To Rally
A fun addition to the game overall. I agree with the 8/10 score and ultimately, I have enjoyed every single DLC for the Horizon series to date. I do love me some Forza Horizon...