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Microsoft / Activision Deal Approval Watch |OT| (MS/ABK close)
- Status
Dick Jones
Gold Member
3 billion can pay for many NDAs on sexual harassment. Bobby will be fine
CoreyFlawless
Member
Eh, oh well. Kinda sucks. Was hoping it would pass I suppose like what all changes would happen in the next few years if it did. Oh well. Time to move on
Agree time to move on catch up on back catalog since jedi survivor is not worth buying. Finish up detroit become human and then either atomic heart or try GOD 2018 again.
Edmund
Member
Have you all tried reading Senjutsu Sage's posts in Naruto's angry voice? It's really fun!
I've timestamped the video for reference.
James Sawyer Ford
Gold Member
Yeah I dunno what his deal was.
It's very odd to not see the writing on the wall and go into insane levels of shilling for the highly unlikely scenario that this now goes through. Everyone else of his ilk (Jez, Colt, etc) think it's done and dead...yet he thinks this is positive news and the regulators will somehow be swayed again by Microsoft's evidence? Nevermind the fact that to win an appeal it's less about convincing the CMA that their opinion is incorrect and more about the fact that the CMA must have broken regulatory protocol when forming their final decision. That's why it's so unlikely to win. The time for "arguments" about the merits of the case ended when the CMA reached their final decision and blocked it.
LordCBH
Member
We ll the answers obvious isn’t it? Microsoft raises an army and conquers Europe.
MasterCornholio
Member
The Mods
He came back.
Went crazy.
Got banned.
I'm sure he will complain about it on twitter.
MasterCornholio
Member
Hoping that Microsoft does this is wrong on so many levels. What is wrong with these people?
bender
What time is it?
They probably have about $15K tied up in Activision stock.
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Edmund
Member
Getting "free games" on their plastic box of choice and taking games away for good from their rival's plastic box drives people to act irrationally.
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MasterCornholio
Member
It's not like Xbox consumers are losing the games. I'm sure they can still afford to buy them. Plus there's nothing wrong with supporting developers this way.
SlimySnake
Flashless at the Golden Globes
lol How many times has Senjutsu gotten permabanned from gaf now? This must be the third.
MasterCornholio
Member
He had a 1 month just before this one.
3liteDragon
Member
Here's the thing: The chance of this deal even being closed is at 5% for me rn, we all know how the CMA appeal process works & it's highly unlikely Microsoft's gonna win it imo. At the same time, I actually don't think Activision's gonna renegotiate the merger agreement with MS after the July 18th date & they get their breakup fee instead. The CMA decision really was the deal-killer here & I think Phil & Kotick have come to terms with the fact that the deal's probably not going through.
BUT, if both parties somehow do renegotiate the merger agreement after July 18th, then we're gonna have to wait for the CMA appeal process to play out, if the CMA rejects the appeal, there's a 0% chance of the deal being closed, doesn't matter if the FTC & EU somehow even approved it by then.
BUT, if both parties somehow do renegotiate the merger agreement after July 18th, then we're gonna have to wait for the CMA appeal process to play out, if the CMA rejects the appeal, there's a 0% chance of the deal being closed, doesn't matter if the FTC & EU somehow even approved it by then.
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
This is the most important point.
Renegotiating the deal means getting approval from shareholders once more. The ABK share price is almost 20% down compared to the $96 that Microsoft bought it for. The deal has been blocked by one of the regulators; the other two regulatory bodies are also expected to block it.
Why on earth would ABK shareholders subject the company and themselves to this ordeal again? Especially when the alternative is that they get $3 billion that can be used to fuel the company and get dividends?
$3 billion almost 2x the amount of profit that ABK makes in the entire year. This is free money!
Of course, Bobby would say that they want to appeal because it is his paycheck on the line. But the shareholders? No. They aren't interested.
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Edmund
Member
There's a higher chance of
SenjutsuSage
coming back to gaf and being a mod here than the ATVI deal going through.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
UK tech sector unfazed by regulator blocking Microsoft’s takeover of Activision
Founders and investors think the move could be a “net positive” for UK startups — as the country tries to hold onto its reputation as a good place to start a business
“The broader M&A landscape for gaming startups will not be affected in the least, meaning investor appetites will stay the same,” adds Jere Partanen, investor at Sisu Game Ventures. “The proposed acquisition was the largest in the industry's history, and it’s hard to see any other acquisition of a gaming company receiving such scrutiny.”
The criticism of the UK tech ecosystem from Microsoft and Activision is also inaccurate, Midwood tells Sifted. “They’re presenting the UK as a close-minded space, but it’s a good market for startups — probably the best in Europe. Given the [economic downturn] and Brexit, it’s important that we portray ourselves well.” Midwood doesn’t think that US investors will be put off backing UK startups because of the criticism.
The decision to block the takeover could also be good for UK game development startups looking to get their products on gaming platforms, he says. “Vying for attention on digital stores is hard enough [for game development startups] and if only a few companies control revenue it makes it harder for startups to get attention.”
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Varteras
Gold Member
There's a higher chance of
You just had to jinx us, didn't you?!
So you are saying Sony doesn’t have a dominant position in the console market right?Honestly.
Venom Snake
Member
Edmund
Member
Ignore Microsoft’s whines about the Activision Blizzard takeover. The CMA did its job | Nils Pratley
Brad Smith’s reaction to Competition and Markets Authority blocking deal is pure Big Tech entitlement
www.theguardian.com
MasterCornholio
Member
Well a market leader had to exist. I wouldn't say Sony controls the market.
Bernardougf
Gold Member
One thing this deal proved is that people are really really stupid, we are lucky we are not fish, a lot of us would bite that fishing lure so hard that they would be taken to the oven with it still in their mouth, I just cant believe the amount of people willing to give full control of their gaming habits for MS with their subscription service at the cost of pseudo-free games, hundreds of years of history and stupidity and blind faith on pretty propaganda speachs still clouds and dazzle peoples minds.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
This isn't about console market anymore. The CMA didn't block the acquisition because of console market; that SLC was removed a few weeks ago.
This acquisition is blocked because of Cloud gaming market, in which Microsoft is the dominant player with 70% market share.
If you are against monopolies and dominant positions of companies, do you then agree that this acquisition was rightly blocked by the CMA?
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Varteras
Gold Member
Bernoulli
M2 slut
i give less than 1 month that they walk away from the deal
sifted.eu
UK tech sector unfazed by regulator blocking Microsoft’s takeover of Activision
Founders and investors think the move could be a “net positive” for UK startups — as the country tries to hold onto its reputation as a good place to start a business
Dick Jones
Gold Member
ABK will want their 3 billion. Once July hits, unless they are offered another 3 billion to continue, Bobby is out.i give less than 1 month that they walk away from the deal
UK tech sector unfazed by regulator blocking Microsoft’s takeover of Activision
Founders and investors think the move could be a “net positive” for UK startups — as the country tries to hold onto its reputation as a good place to start a business
Brad Smith is looking at getting forcibly retired for this shitshow. Someone is getting sacked and even Phil is saying enough to distance himself. Microsoft's softer rep ruined over Call of Fucking Duty. Fucking mental.
PaintTinJr
Member
It is also a huge misunderstanding of how UK law works. In such circumstances the government could seize control of all of Microsoft's UK operations to protect the employees and country from any risks/fallout from such a strategy.
Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
We might see statements like "Brad Smith and Phil Spencer have decided to spend more time with their families ... "
Goalus
Member
According to this forum cloud gaming does neither exist nor work and will never take off.
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MasterCornholio
Member
Has Sony given any response to the CMAs decision?
I do remember them responding to them dropping their argument. Their silence is kind of weird but maybe Sony doesn't bother warring on social media.
I do remember them responding to them dropping their argument. Their silence is kind of weird but maybe Sony doesn't bother warring on social media.
PaintTinJr
Member
The question is whether the people at Microsoft welcome getting the sack. The Ian St John interviews(DirectX project leader) from the past said that you only get to keep your share options from Microsoft if you get sacked, so maybe these people are happy this deal has given them an early exit option - finally - while getting to keep their shares.
Edmund
Member
They don't have to say anything. Action speaks louder than words. They just have to keep releasing good games that people will buy.
Dick Jones
Gold Member
Poor Phil Spencer. Isn't his family Cunt Eastwood, Jizz and Tim the dog? Some banishment.
MasterCornholio
Member
Well i mean I haven't seen console warring from them on twitter or anything. But maybe that's just greenberg that does that.
Hitchyhero
Banned
Cloud gaming isn't going to be as big as the CMA predict to to be. Especially with games like Cod that require almost zero input lag.
It's such an odd choice to refuse the merger on. I can understand other concerns... But not this one.
I know people are saying "yes but we are talking about future potential"..... But who here really sees cloud gaming to be the dominant way to play games in the next 10 years, 20 years ... In particular with online competitive games like Cod? I still see cloud gaming being pretty minute and low in numbers in the future compared to digital downloads etc.
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PaintTinJr
Member
They are getting a 10year offer for Destiny 2 written up for Jim's back pocket - for him to carry around.
Rumour has it Xbox want to use word and excel to edit the deal
Dick Jones
Gold Member
Varteras
Gold Member
Microsoft has spent billions building it, so clearly they disagree. As does the CMA.
Mozza
Member
It had to take that position though, as the console market looks very strong in terms of competition, and Sony are doing very well in their battle with Microsoft, so if the CMA were going to vote against the deal, it had to be on other grounds, like cloud gaming.
Goalus
Member
It is mental gymnastics.
The same kind of mental gymnastics the blue ones exhibit in this forum on a daily basis. MS should simply start buying Activision shares on public exchanges.
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
Good thing the CMA isn't basing their decision on what an Internet forum members think.
They do use in their decision what Microsoft's executives say and/or planning, however. Phil Spencer thinks that Cloud is super important.
"When you talk about Nintendo and Sony, we have a tonne of respect for them, but we see Amazon and Google as the main competitors going forward," Phil Spencer told Protocol, a new technology news website. "That's not to disrespect Nintendo and Sony, but the traditional gaming companies are somewhat out of position."
MasterCornholio
Member
Maybe something will be said later but I believe that will be only after the conclusion of this.
PaintTinJr
Member
As much as I hate to admit it, it will be bigger, much bigger in the future than we think for one reason only, fuel poverty. Cloud gaming in an optimised competition market situation - like the UK's telecoms network - will be significantly greener than maintaining the current setup long into the future.
Low powered local devices relying on high powered cloud compute - that makes huge savings on scale - will yield multi order benefits from an ecology standpoint, and will bake the cost of the energy into the sub, bought at closer to supplier level pricing, rather than consumer, and probably part powered by nearby renewables.
It isn't the future I want for gaming, but the greener issues will take priority in the decades that follow IMO.
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Heisenberg007
Gold Journalism
I wouldn't even say "very strong." The UK console market currently is 56% PlayStation and 44% Xbox. With one acquisition, Xbox would have become the leading console company in the UK -- based on CMA's analysis of how many people would shift to Xbox due to ABK's potential exclusivity.
But the CMA disagreed with that later.
But there obviously could not have been any doubt regarding the cloud gaming market as Microsoft is the clear leader there with 70% market share.
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