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@SplooshDmg I agree, they’ve lost the console war so are trying to corner cloud gaming. Can’t monopolise one market so will try to monopolise another. Just makes Sony and Microsoft out to be as bad as each other in that regard. I wonder how long they would make consoles for? If they invest so much on Xbox being a brand and service on as many devices as possible, will they just ditch the console and maybe just sell a streaming box for cloud gaming?

That’s not what I signed up for.

@Neonix I was actually insulted by the disgusting ActiBlizz comment, no these hard line American giant capitalist comments do not work at all. Socialism from Europe and capitalism from America don’t always work.

Pathetic egotistical comments from Microsoft, if they weren’t trying to monopolise a growing market they are dominant in then there wouldn’t be a problem.
I think some need to read more in depth on this and ignore the hyperbole rhetoric from MS and ActiBlizz employees. 60 to 70% global market owned by Microsoft, and they wanted to buy ActiBlizz.

@SplooshDmg I've had time to reflect, I learnt that globally Microsoft Xbox controls 60 to 70% of cloud gaming, and wants ActiBliz, I can totally understand where the CMA are coming from based on that! How MS ever thought they'd get the deal through is beyond me?

I bought Xbox again for State Of Decay, Avowed, Project Zero, Gears of War, where are they??? MIA as you said. MS first party studios seem to be in a mess and all MS are doing is chasing seemingly impossible acquisitions. Yeah it was fun screaming YES COD ON GAME PASS, but then you realise where are all the other games? Oh look Red Fall that's barely done releasing...

The only time Xbox console was remotely successful in the market is when they copied Sonys strategy in the Xbox 360 days. Exclusive deals. Now they have and want Xbox services to be the success. IMO.
They even recently during their earnings announced a huge drop in console sales...

That's why I am thinking of jumping ship, with Sony you know where you are and what games you'll get, with MS you know the games you love and want but have no idea when or if you'll get them. All you know is they want Xbox as a service and to waste billions in giant acquisitions that are blocked unsurprisingly when looked at objectively.

Game Pass is a winner, all they need to do is get first party games on it, and exclusive deals, that's it. But they want that top level income and revenue so want to just buy everyone.

In short, and I hate to say it, sack Spencer, sack the MS studios boss and team, sack Nedala even, and put people in that want exclusive deals and can manage the studios they own already and be laser focussed on.

With any luck what they should have done, spend far less time and money on exclusivity deals like Sony does, and spend far more time getting their first party studios working! Stop the exodus of high profile staff and for Christ Sake stop the endless game delays. And boost quality.

But it's obvious MS are obsessed with all their product portfolio being offered as a service you subscribe to. They are going to mess up Xbox, again. The 360 was a success because it followed the same plan as PlayStation, exclusive deals.
Ever since they moved to promote multi media and now game services they've messed up.

Can they really not just follow the PS plan? I mean it more then works for them...

Just stop buying every big name under the sun! Just do what Sony does please.. but they won't. However if the EU blocks the deal, which I think they will, then MS will fingers crossed be forced to follow Sonys model. Just like the fantastic Xbox 360 days.

Ok having looked more into this I actually support the CMA to an extent. They states Microsoft Xbox has 60 to 70% of the GLOBAL game streaming market, that's huge, and buying Activision Blizzard would give them a massive advantage over competitors.

Yes the games could be in competing platforms but MS still gets paid then. So this would stifle competition in the market.

What MS 'should' have done is never tried to buy ActiBliz, but spend far less on exclusivity deals, out bid Sony, as that wouldn't take half as much resource, they could then put all their efforts into getting their first party studios working and stop the high profile staff leaving. And try to stop the endless game delays they have.

Now we could end up with a 2 tier Game Pass service where in the UK you get no ActiBliz games, but we pay the same, but in other countries you do get those games.
I also don't appreciate the responses from Microsoft or Activision on this block, I find their attitudes quite arrogant towards the UK as a whole. Definitely a copium unprofessional approach. That shows poor judgment to me and a bit insulting to be honest.
I won't be surprised if the EU also blocks the deal now though, for the exact same reasons.

Microsoft announced a huge loss in Xbox sales in their earnings this week or last. But subscribers numbers are up. They just want a service business.

And I can't believe I just said that. But I took a time out to reflect.

@NeutronBomb Very true. Good comment. If they launch a PS5 slim I may be tempted and I hate Ryan. Because I don’t know what Microsoft will do now in the UK?

No idea what you’re on about in your comment, Phil isn’t an attorney? So what?

As for “ What are you talking about HQ being worried about those deals?”

I have absolutely no clue what you are on about.

@Trmn8r And? I know that. I didn't say Microsoft is dead did I? But it could cost Phil and Nadela their jobs. You don't push for 69 billion dollar plus countless other billions on a project that fails and keep your job.

@bpomber You aren't familiar with Xbox history then are you...

@Titntin Exactly, I saw another comment state Microsoft's lack of reading the room is incredible, I have to agree, it's been obvious for years that European governments have become increasingly hostile towards American tech giants. And it was a risky move to make this acquisition as the European games markets are worth endless billions in revenue.

@Trmn8r It depends on how it goes. But American tech giants have been pushing competition a LOT across various markets in Europe, it was inevitable governments would react. This deal has got caught up in the cross fire I think. Yes Sony is as bad but they aren't even half the size of Microsoft, Alphabet, Apple, Amazon.

@Fenbops We will have to see how much money it will take from Sony to keep them sweet. But Nintendo has just lost COD potentially.

It's beginning to look like this strategy was the wrong one. Europe has taken an increasingly hardline approach to giant American tech giants, for good reason, over the last few years. So buying exclusivity deals like Sony do could have been the better plan. We could have had deals set in stone by now and games coming to the service.

@Widey85 Xbox is dead, possibly, an appeal has a low chance of success. If this deal does not go through in the UK they have had it.

The entire business strategy of Xbox under Phil has been to be the nice company, the pleasant one standing for consumer value.
Well they announced their quarter earnings this week I think and Xbox revenue is down year on year for the quarter, but game subscribers are up.
So if they lose the deal then you can be certain a vast swathe of subscribers will cancel.

Cool you think but then they'll get exclusives... well no, again because of their entire strategy being nicey nicey, I don't think Spencer has it in him to play hard ball and buy exclusivity's away from Sony etc, or pay for COD to be Game Pass exclusive for a year or a few months.

They would have to fire Spencer and find someone else with a more vicious streak. The current entire Xbox business plan relies on Game Pass and that relies on games on it. Big games to pull more subscribers in. Because otherwise they are losing money and share holders won't accept that for ever.

And the UK market is huge and considered vitally important, share holders know this.
I expect the EU will follow the UK now anyway.

@cragis0001 I think MPs sit on some of the boards in those companies, pure coincidence of course...

@Fenbops I think this deal is as good as dead now, it’s delayed for months if not years now. So I expect MS if they grow a pair and stop with the nicety’s, to start paying billions for hard exclusives, COD Game Pass exclusivity for a year, yes please. AB will be very upset with Sony, very.

@Widey85 We shall see. But the odds are not in Microsoft’s favour. The British government is taking a hard stance against American tech giant corporations.
Either way this deal won’t complete for months now if not years. It’s as good as dead.

@K1LLEGAL I’ve concluded it’s a plan to wreck the UK economy, because it’s the only way to make any sense of what the government has and is doing. Part of the wider WEF plan probably.

@Widey85 So you’ve spoken to Microsoft’s lawyers have you?

Here you go read these:

http://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1113639/Energy_Guidance.pdf

http://www.inhouselawyer.co.uk/legal-briefing/appealing-a-decision-by-the-cma-in-a-merger-review/

“ Even if an applicant successfully appeals the CMA’s substantive assessment in a merger, the CAT will not make a fresh decision, but will instead remit the case back to the CMA for further review –typically by the same decision makers and case team as previously. This may not be an attractive prospect, particularly if the deal economics or environment have changed since the transaction was first signed (months or years previously).”

@Widey85 Wrong, they cannot over turn decisions. Don’t listen to people on Twitter, Google it and research it yourself, it’s a government department. And the UK government is incredibly stubborn.

@cragis0001 ironically the internet is crap entirely thanks to the government… they are more interested in wasting hundreds of billions on a train set (HS2).

@Beermonkey Those markets don’t matter now, the UK games market is huge and considered extremely strategic for these companies, the CMA have effectively just killed the deal stone dead.

@Kaloudz Go and Google the CMA appeals process, it’s practically none existent, they have all the power, literally a court can only pass the case back to the CMA for review, you can’t sue them either as that mechanism doesn’t exist in the UK courts. It’s a government department, and the UK government are total ***** to be frank, all of the parties are.

@Widey85 Nope, Nintendo will just continue to dominate over Sony, with ease. Don’t forget a new Switch Successor is on the horizon. Sony likes to pretend Nintendo aren’t a competitor to make themselves feel better.

@Bleachedsmiles a years exclusivity for COD on Game Pass for the next 5 years should do it. This also means of course NO COD on Switch now, or it’s successor.

@Kaloudz No! No court can overturn the CMAs decision, literally all they can do is request the same team in the CMA review it again. That’s all. Very very very few CMA decisions are changed in the appeal process.

@Widey85 Sorry, the CMA has no appeals process really, all you can do is say to the court we don’t like the decision, all the court will do is pass the case back to the exact same team in the CMA to review again, and you can imagine what they will do. No court has the power to actually overturn the CMA’s decision, the rate of successful appeals is pathetically small as a result.

“ The report from the CMA also mentions a bit about Microsoft's attempt to remedy these concerns, explaining that accepting the company's proposal "would inevitably require some degree of regulatory oversight".

Read: we would have to do some actual work and really can’t be bothered, civil servants want to only work 4 days a week now, from home…..

@Martsmall Oh yeah he’s very two faced, best ignore him.

What the f***! God I hate the UK and ESPECIALLY the pathetic government. They have literally sided with the monopolistic market leader. I expect brown envelopes exchanged hands, hope Xbox dumps the UK market then. The CMA can then explain why they forced out competition siding with the main market leader instead.

@Sebatrox Nintendo has been given a huge win with MS promising to bring COD to the Switch, or more likely its successor. It'll boost its sales I think for sure.

Xbox haters will make anything up for kicks and social media clicks. Oxen who? Is all I can say. And there is a ton of fantastic titles on Xbox.

Lol the only law the FTC abides by is its own made up law. They have an agenda to block every single US tech company merger they can. And it's mostly this Khan women's fault, she is playing very dirty political games. I can only hope she is forced out soon.

@Telin Must be the same with Mr Beast on You Tube, he’s always giving stuff away in America. Wonder if they take the winners aside off camera and explain the taxes they’ll have to pay?

@fizban3332 Isn’t that the truth.

Although our taxes in the UK are expensive, I admit the US system just utterly confuses me. Good shout to the winner reading the fine print and avoid getting caught out. I’d do the same, not worth paying the tax man so much for a prize like that.

It’s been revealed that this group is backed b6 Sony, crying Ryan trying all the dirty tricks he can. Sad and pathetic they had to resort to a group of low life redditors to try and block the deal on utterly baseless accusations.

At this point I’m a little concerned about what state Starfield will be released in.

This is pretty poor, Microsoft seem to be developing a pattern of releasing first party games unfinished. I know we live in the world of patches, but seriously no 60 FPS option in a shooter? That’s bad and bad management too. Microsoft you need to try MUCH MUCH harder.

Quite literally the only people listening to Sony’s argument now are it’s fans, and even there some of the infamous hardcore ones are telling Sony to stop it now and take the L. I don’t think a single regulator is listening to their pathetic lies and arguments now. The deal is as good as done.

@NEStalgia House and Tretton could see what was coming, hence they jumped ship. It is most definitely not the PlayStation they grew that's for sure, they both had far more class then Ryan does.

@ZuneTattooGuy The Dead Space remake already showed this, it is next gen only and runs much better on Xbox Series X then PS5 which couldn't handle variable rate shaders as it lacks the hardware for it.

It is both hilarious and utterly embarrassing reading this release by Sony. It stinks of sad desperation and wild accusations, not one single regulator globally believes them. And so because the CMA has investigated and seen through their lies, they attack the CMA effectively calling them thick and stupid? And yet only 2 weeks ago they were praising the CMA's efforts to seemingly disagree with the deal.

Sony you have lost, you have far overplayed your hand, take the L and save what ever face you have left. And I suggest you start to repair the damage you have done to your own studios, as you effectively threw them under a bus claiming only COD matters.

@Fenbops Well people still make cat videos right? I agree though why was Stray in the list.

Well done to that team! A worthy winner, I haven't played it much but with its simple gameplay I can see why so many love it. It's actually fun rather than trying to tell you 'the message' or some deep story. The Cult Of The Lamb is also very good.

@electrolite77 If you read the story it states they are claiming the acts of Sony and the Japanese government are in breach of an existing digital trade deal. So they already have one that covers this in place.

@Sol4ris Sony will get COD no matter what, Phil kinda has to return on that 69 billion dollar investment for their shareholders. But they won’t get anymore exclusive deals that’s for sure. And if Sony doesn’t sign the 10 year deal, then how long they have COD for is anyone’s guess.

However the majority of the money they’ll make from the investment will come from the mobile market. If they find themselves making a sizeable income from other platforms like mobile, then just how long they’ll support Sony for if it doesn’t sign that deal will be very interesting.

@Fenbops I have to say I see some members like him on here and add the odd reply or just think whatever. Then I go to Push Square and see their comments over there and it quickly becomes very obvious what their game is as you say.

An expected email from the CEO to calm the staff nerves. I suspect the water bottle chat must be rife.
But it will change the relationship the two companies have as the CEO and others I expect will leave after the merger, so it'll be a new team in place.

@UltimateOtaku91 Typical post from you, Sony are using monopolistic anti competitive tactics in its home market, and that’s against an existing trade deal. Hence the call for it to be investigated. Nintendo seem more then happy to work with Microsoft, it also has many first party exclusives, they haven’t been accused of making deals to deliberately keep ‘third party’ games off a competitors platform or streaming service.

Nothing shocking from Sony really, but now with the US government accusing the Japanese government of turning a blind eye, that is an important development and will require Japan to answer.

If Sony wants full access to the US market as it currently enjoys, it must allow US competitors the same level of free access to its market, as does the Japanese government need to, or they face the consequences which can include sanctions I’d imagine.

If you are a foreign entity, and enter a country to compete in its market, and then you actively lie and try to block business of your competitors that are home grown in that said market, don’t complain if the government starts pushing back on your monopolistic anti competitive actions in your own home country against the trade deal agreed.