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Microsoft / Activision Deal Approval Watch |OT| (MS/ABK close)

Do you believe the deal will be approved?


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    886
  • Poll closed .
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I find it hilarious to see posts about regulators with zero regulatory influence approving the deal. Like that decision wasn't a foregone conclusion with every acquisition and merger that crosses their desk.
Whats even more hilarious is seeing people post as though the acquisition had already been blocked. Seeing people act as though the deal was as good as dead is the kind of entertainment you just can't get anywhere else.

But of course we all know seeing regulator after regulator approve this acquisition is eating you up. You've already invested so much of your time and emotions into this thing. One has to wonder why you continue to enter threads such as this one, much less continue to post in them. You know you're taking the L on this eventually. You know it, I know it, and just about everyone else does as well. Why continue as though it won't? Are you just a glutton for punishment?
 

jm89

Member
g0JHZZ1.jpg
Almost, teeth is too white and straight.
 

Swift_Star

Banned
Whats even more hilarious is seeing people post as though the acquisition had already been blocked. Seeing people act as though the deal was as good as dead is the kind of entertainment you just can't get anywhere else.

But of course we all know seeing regulator after regulator approve this acquisition is eating you up. You've already invested so much of your time and emotions into this thing. One has to wonder why you continue to enter threads such as this one, much less continue to post in them. You know you're taking the L on this eventually. You know it, I know it, and just about everyone else does as well. Why continue as though it won't? Are you just a glutton for punishment?
It’s actually fun seeing you all chasing after your own tails. 🤷🏻‍♂️
As everyone knows: denial is the first stage of grief.
 
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MarkMe2525

Member
I thought we were over this. It's windows central and how they've interpreted it. It doesn't increase game sales especially for any big budget exclusive. Look at what MS are telling regulators:

MS: "And as the financial model shows, adding Activision content to Game Pass is not without cost to the existing business, which suffers a []% cannibalization rate of Xbox game sales"

Gamepass is good for marketing and exposure of lesser known games, not the big budget ones. It can increase franchise sales too. For example it can increase sales of other games in a franchise when one is offered on gamepass and people play and enjoy it then buy a sequel that's not on gamepass. It can increase coverage of lesser known games because of MS marketing with gamepass but it's not going to increase sales of an individual big budget game offered on gamepass or a franchise that has all its games there.


Doesn't make sense though. PS Now isn't recent, it was available during the PS3 gen. instead of saying MS does not allow PS+ extra/premium formerly known as PS Now, they said MS does not allow PS+. So it's not online multiplayer that they had to offer, it's obviously referring to the renamed games subscription service in response to the other game subscription being offered on PS.
They don't say that because it probably never happened. In what world would Sony allow their ip on a MS console.
 

feynoob

Banned
Difference here being £1 VS $1

Here in the UK, the last GP offer I saw was for £1 or One Pound. It was being sold earlier in the year for £0.99
Just because it's offer, it doesn't mean it represents a majority of userbase.

That offer only applies to new users. It won't work with existing userbase. And you also need to not have gamepass for 3-4 months. So no one can abuse that offer.
 

Pelta88

Member
UK has been £1 since 2017

i0NduDS.png


Stackable workaround could get you GP for 3 years. For £1 Which I have used


A workaround Microsoft has acknowledged... Here in the UK


I think the confusion between me calling GP a £1 service and people taking offence comes down to location.
 
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onesvenus

Member
It was on player board.

You do realize that was a single day after pre-release, right? That's November 6 and it was released on November 9, there were 3 more days to increase those numbers.
Looking through the release thread there are reports of 2M people showing on the rankings before the official November 9 launch.

I'd argue that shows Microsoft can also sell their games which is what the OP I was answering to was claiming they could not
 

Topher

Gold Member
You do realize that was a single day after pre-release, right? That's November 6 and it was released on November 9, there were 3 more days to increase those numbers.
Looking through the release thread there are reports of 2M people showing on the rankings before the official November 9 launch.

I'd argue that shows Microsoft can also sell their games which is what the OP I was answering to was claiming they could not

I'm just giving you what was reported. On launch day they had 4.5 million. I'd say launch day is going to have a hell of a lot more players than pre-release so 4 million prior to launch doesn't make sense.
 

Three

Member
They don't say that because it probably never happened. In what world would Sony allow their ip on a MS console.
Could we say the same for MS and its claim? In the world where they offered their game service and IPs without needing a console. PSNow on a phone, PC, or TV during PS3 and beyond.

They merely said MS would not allow it. Whether a formal offer was made or not is irrelevant. But you're here trying to suggest they didn't have anything to offer until recently. Suggesting all they had was online multiplayer. I'm saying they have had a game subscription service for a long time and it's now renamed to PS+ too. That's all I was pointing out when responding to you.
 

GHG

Member
UK has been £1 since 2017

i0NduDS.png

[/URL]

Stackable workaround could get you GP for 3 years. For £1 Which I have used

[/URL]

A workaround Microsoft has acknowledged... Here in the UK


I think the confusion between me calling GP a £1 service and people taking offence comes down to location.

The average monthly price being paid per subscriber for gamepass is around $6 based on the most recent data we have:

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/phil...s-is-profitable.1643985/page-7#post-266823471
 

ReBurn

Gold Member
But don't worry people. I'm pretty sure the FTC really believes that Microsoft using Azure, Office and Windows money (the Xbox division never made $70B in its entire existence, let alone having that amount lying around) to block Sony's gaming console from getting 3rd party software providers is a perfect form of "competing on the merits".

And if the FTC doesn't believe so, it's because big bad Sony put lies and deception in their heads. I totally know this because my favorite youtube lawyer said so in a video last week.
When it comes to the FTC a wise man once said:

Life Number GIF


It doesn't matter what the FTC believes because the deal doesn't require their approval. The FTC has to prove in court that this acquisition would be illegal. If they can then the deal should be stopped or modified to confirm to the court's requirements. If they can't then it won't be stopped, at least not in the US.
 

feynoob

Banned
You do realize that was a single day after pre-release, right? That's November 6 and it was released on November 9, there were 3 more days to increase those numbers.
Looking through the release thread there are reports of 2M people showing on the rankings before the official November 9 launch.

I'd argue that shows Microsoft can also sell their games which is what the OP I was answering to was claiming they could not
Early pre gamepass, it was 1m on board.
I was here, when it was posted.
 
UK has been £1 since 2017

i0NduDS.png

[/URL]

Stackable workaround could get you GP for 3 years. For £1 Which I have used

[/URL]

A workaround Microsoft has acknowledged... Here in the UK


I think the confusion between me calling GP a £1 service and people taking offence comes down to location.

Using this stackable offer would cost you around £121..... ( 3x £40) plus £1 first month. It is not £1 total
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
If gamepass was "generating money" then Microsoft would be shouting its profit numbers through the skies and they wouldn't be hiding its losses behind all the Azure and 365 Windows and Surface business.
Also, Phil Spencer would be telling us actual profit numbers instead of making vague and uncompromising statements like GamePass is very sustainable (for Microsoft's entire revenue stream).

Have Sony shouted about how their exclusives like ratchet, horizon, gran turismo, last of us remake, uncharted....etc etc are "generating money" or does that mean they aren't and aren't sustainable?

You seem to be pretty confident that these companies would be shouting about rhis if they were?
 

DenchDeckard

Moderated wildly
The average monthly price being paid per subscriber for gamepass is around $6 based on the most recent data we have:

https://www.neogaf.com/threads/phil...s-is-profitable.1643985/page-7#post-266823471

So its generating around 175 million a month?

That seems like quite a lot really? 🤔

I'm sure it drives micro transactions on dlc and sales as well etc so it would be interesting to see the numbers.

Game pass is a halo product and should drive considerable avenues for other revenue as well.

Could be doing well. Unless 175 million a month isn't decent?
 

feynoob

Banned
So its generating around 175 million a month?

That seems like quite a lot really? 🤔

I'm sure it drives micro transactions on dlc and sales as well etc so it would be interesting to see the numbers.

Game pass is a halo product and should drive considerable avenues for other revenue as well.

Could be doing well. Unless 175 million a month isn't decent?
Global numbers make it little bit lower, due to currencies exchange of $ in these countries. So total revenue would be down. (Our math were only $ currency. We never included global currencies)
Once US numbers gets higher, the total revenue would be increased in the process.

So that 6$ is average numbers for global userbase (all currencies combined).
 

pasterpl

Member
So its generating around 175 million a month?

That seems like quite a lot really? 🤔

I'm sure it drives micro transactions on dlc and sales as well etc so it would be interesting to see the numbers.

Game pass is a halo product and should drive considerable avenues for other revenue as well.

Could be doing well. Unless 175 million a month isn't decent?
Based on Sony 29 mln number and ms 2.9 bn revenue average rev per user is $100/per user per year = 8.33/per user per month = 242mln/ month. This exclude any mtx revenue etc. if we would take ms 25 mln number that revenue by user increases to $9.66/per month.
 
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Schmick

Member

GHG

Member
Based on Sony 29 mln number and ms 2.9 bn revenue average rev per user is $100/per user per year = 8.33/per user per month = 242mln/ month. This exclude any mtx revenue etc.

There's no need to estimate, Phil already stated gamepass is currently 10-15% of Xbox's total revenue.

If we are to assume Sony's numbers are accurate (they aren't, because if they were then bonus targets would have been met) then the amount each subscriber is paying on average falls even further.
 

Fredrik

Member
Given how your account moves with you now with your library, it will be interesting to see/understand why people who switch platforms are doing so.
I would think that less people would just completely switch over but could be wrong there. We will see.
Depends what happens with the subscription services, if you’re going all in on subs there is no issue to move from one platform to another. I haven’t bought a single game yet for XSX.
 

Three

Member
The target was june this year. Sony numbers are late.
Maybe I'm not understanding something here. If the aim was 30+M (for June? ) and Sony is reporting 29M in November then surely it would mean they wouldn't have hit bonus targets even with Sony's numbers?
 
Just because it's offer, it doesn't mean it represents a majority of userbase.

That offer only applies to new users. It won't work with existing userbase. And you also need to not have gamepass for 3-4 months. So no one can abuse that offer.
Doesn't make sense. I've had several 1€ subscriptions already. And I was only once a new user.
 

oldergamer

Member
If gamepass was "generating money" then Microsoft would be shouting its profit numbers through the skies and they wouldn't be hiding its losses behind all the Azure and 365 Windows and Surface business.
Also, Phil Spencer would be telling us actual profit numbers instead of making vague and uncompromising statements like GamePass is very sustainable (for Microsoft's entire revenue stream).
you clearly haven't been paying attention. It's not losing money. How are some of you back on this stupid argument again?


Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has revealed that the company’s Xbox Game Pass subscription service is already profitable. Speaking at The Wall Street Journal’s Tech Live conference, Spencer also revealed that Xbox Game Pass is around 15 percent of Microsoft’s overall Xbox content and services revenue.

Unless you want to ignore the obvious.

CADE stated that the data had been provided directly by Microsoft, and in terms of Xbox Game Pass earnings on console, in 2021 the service generated a lofty $2.9 billion.
 


Hoeg breaking down MS moves to placate the EU regulators. They are no longer focusing on tying to arrive at something Sony will accept since they are just opposed in general to the deal. Access to CoD was never the issue and they will not accept anything MS can offer.
 

feynoob

Banned
Maybe I'm not understanding something here. If the aim was 30+M (for June? ) and Sony is reporting 29M in November then surely it would mean they wouldn't have hit bonus targets even with Sony's numbers?
Correct. That is why gamepass failed to hit their expectation.

this year
In order for the target to be hit, Microsoft had to see a growth rate of 72.88% in Xbox Game Pass subscribers for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2022.

Instead, while the number of subscribers did still continue to grow, the rate was only 28.07%.
Last year
This is the second time the Game Pass growth rate has failed to reach internal targets. In the 2021 fiscal year the target was 47.79% growth but the final result was 37.48% growth.
2020
In the previous year the target was met – the target was 71% growth and the result was 85.75% growth.
 

12Dannu123

Member


Hoeg breaking down MS moves to placate the EU regulators. They are no longer focusing on tying to arrive at something Sony will accept since they are just opposed in general to the deal. Access to CoD was never the issue and they will not accept anything MS can offer.

Sony is aruging in bad faith. Sony isn't willing to compromise, they want to kill the deal. So there's no point in talking with Sony.
 
You have a period of restriction from gamepass. Its 3 to 4 months. Once it ends, you can use it again. But if you hit early, you wont get that 1$.

People who do that are low.
Why though?
I only subscribe when its at 1€ and theres something I wanna play.

I don't want another subscription running every month and I don't need it. Having to many options of games to play will result in me playing tons of different games and not finishing any of them.
The backlog of games I own is big enough anyways.
 


Hoeg breaking down MS moves to placate the EU regulators. They are no longer focusing on tying to arrive at something Sony will accept since they are just opposed in general to the deal. Access to CoD was never the issue and they will not accept anything MS can offer.


We will concede to no deal, for to concede would be to lose, and the PlayStation Nation never loses
 
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