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[ShaiKhulud1989]

You mean until august when they are expected to have final verdict ready?
I'm sure that those fines for...one and half months would be unbearable for Microsoft

I love how everyone ignores the proverbal bird that Microsoft will flip in CMAs face. Good luck with negotiating any agreeements with CMA after that stunt.

 

[Varteras]

You mean until august when they are expected to have final verdict ready?
I'm sure that those fines for...one and half months would be unbearable for Microsoft

If MS closes the deal before then, that changes everything. The CMA doesn't just look over its shoulder, shrug, and look back at the proposal. It starts a whole new chain of events. Because at that point MS just said fuck your process, remedies, and deals. We're taking what we want. There is no longer a reason to accept anything from them at that time.

 

[Godot25]

Seems silly to break the law rather than simply amend the agreement and set a new date, imo.

Well. This whole merger process is kinda silly.

But tbh. I doubt it will end up like that. Since CMA responded with certain date when they will have a verdict, I think it wouldn't be a problem for Bobby to extend for 2 months.

Whole conversation previously was about if Bobby won't agree with extension. I personally think that risk for Microsoft in that case is worth it. Other users disagree. It's fine. We will know soon.

 

[Topher]

The one Sony will sign if Microsoft get the deal passed (the one Sony refused to sign before).

That deal was offered in order to satisfy EC and CMA. Isn't relevant anymore.

 

[Godot25]

If MS closes the deal before then, that changes everything. The CMA doesn't just look over its shoulder, shrug, and look back at the proposal. It starts a whole new chain of events. Because at that point MS just said fuck your process, remedies, and deals. We're taking what we want. There is no longer a reason to accept anything from them at that time.

People THINK that this is what would have happened.
Same people who thought that deal is dead because CMA blocked it. And voila. Two months later CMA came back to negotiating table.
IF (big if) Microsoft would try to complete a merger over CMA block, I have no doubts they would communicate it with CMA with "sorry, we had no choice." Not doing it "behind their back" with "fuck your process."

 

[Negotiator101]

That deal was offered in order to satisfy EC and CMA. Isn't relevant anymore.

Obviously they'll draw up a new deal, you know what I mean.

 

[Varteras]

People THINK that this is what would have happened.
Same people who thought that deal is dead because CMA blocked it. And voila. Two months later CMA came back to negotiating table.
IF (big if) Microsoft would try to complete a merger over CMA block, I have no doubts they would communicate it with CMA with "sorry, we had no choice." Not doing it "behind their back" with "fuck your process."

You are talking about violating UK law. As if that's no big deal.

 

[Elios83]

It's huge risk of course.
But if Bobby will say no to merger extension, it's not like Microsoft have a choice.
If they won't do it, they will be without ABK
It they will do it, they have chance to have ABK

But even not considering the fines...
And their global reputation?
Trashed in the bin?
Microsoft will be labeled like a company going to the extreme of violating laws to get what they want.
This is huge negative precedent they're creating for their whole business and reputation.
It is not so easy, anyway let's see how things unfold.
With all the twists I've given up trying to predict what's going to happen (including a possible ruling to the FTC's request to extend the TRO)
I'm open to all scenarios.

 

[DryvBy]

You mean until august when they are expected to have final verdict ready?
I'm sure that those fines for...one and half months would be unbearable for Microsoft

You're suggesting they break law and pay fines. I could see you same types saying they should break contracts and pay fines too.

This is why ultra wealthy companies shouldn't own everything.

 

[tryDEATH]

The one Sony will sign if Microsoft get the deal passed (the one Sony refused to sign before).

I don't think XBox is going to extend that olive branch, they'll just end up shipping it on the PS for the foreseeable future and make a financial call in about 5 or so years from now.

I wouldn't even be surprised if they used CoD specifically to have more accurate info on what Sony has planned for the PS6 through the dev kits.

 

[Gudji]

I don't think XBox is going to extend that olive branch, they'll just end up shipping it on the PS for the foreseeable future and make a financial call in about 5 or so years from now.

I wouldn't even be surprised if they used CoD specifically to have more accurate info on what Sony has planned for the PS6 through the dev kits.

They're not going to get PS6 early dev kits if the deal gets done sony already stated that.

 

[GHG]

Obviously they'll draw up a new deal, you know what I mean.

And to that Jimbo will still say:

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

You are talking about violating UK law. As if that's no big deal.

It's no surprise. These people are the spawns of the devil

 

[Topher]

You're suggesting they break law and pay fines. I could see you same types saying they should break contracts and pay fines too.

This is why ultra wealthy companies shouldn't own everything.

Yep. The possibility that trillion dollar companies can laugh off or ignore the pitiful fines regulatory bodies are authorized to levy is truly a scary thought.

 

[jroc74]

You mean until august when they are expected to have final verdict ready?
I'm sure that those fines for...one and half months would be unbearable for Microsoft

Post like this is the reason why anti trust laws, regulators exist.

You're suggesting they break law and pay fines. I could see you same types saying they should break contracts and pay fines too.

This is why ultra wealthy companies shouldn't own everything.

Yep. The possibility that trillion dollar companies can laugh off or ignore the pitiful fines regulatory bodies are authorized to levy is truly a scary thought.

Exactly.

 

[Sanepar]

Then get ready for fireworks. Because the CMA is not the FTC and a foreign company thumbing its nose at UK law is not a good look heading into a court.

I hope u are right but I think they will put a fine of few millions there will be peanuts for MS. Any fine will be less than 3 bi.

 

[Ar¢tos]

People THINK that this is what would have happened.
Same people who thought that deal is dead because CMA blocked it. And voila. Two months later CMA came back to negotiating table.
IF (big if) Microsoft would try to complete a merger over CMA block, I have no doubts they would communicate it with CMA with "sorry, we had no choice." Not doing it "behind their back" with "fuck your process."

Then they'll all hold hands and dance and sing Kumbaya!

 

[adamsapple]

Ah morning news. CMA is back on the table, just 18~ hours left till the TRO expires unless the 9th circuit replies. Let's see if there's any Monday fireworks.

 

[Banjo64]

Like. You can't tell me that if you were Microsoft you would not at least try to complete it even with huge risk. There is no point for Microsoft to NOT try.

If the risk is forced divestment of Activision and CoD in 2 years time @ a $20b loss I’d say it’s not as cut and dry as ‘let’s take the shot’.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

I hope u are right but I think they will put a fine of few millions there will be peanuts for MS. Any fine will be less than 3 bi

Lol no chance.

 

[Negotiator101]

And to that Jimbo will still say:

Why would he say that?

 

[tryDEATH]

They're not going to get PS6 early dev kits if the deal gets done sony already stated that.

Sony did mention that as being a problem, but its one they will have to solve with MS if they want CoD on PS6, which turn makes CoD a headache for Sony around the time for next generation.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Why would he say that?

He doesn't deal with the devil

 

[wolffy66]

You are talking about violating UK law. As if that's no big deal.

Is it a big deal? Is it a big enough deal? I think we're gonna find out.

I still think the cma looks the other way, if MS closes, until they reach their decision.

 

[GHG]

Why would he say that?

Why shouldn't he?

They've said they are committed to continue to release the games on Playstation, it shouldn't necessitate a "deal".

 

[MasterCornholio]

Yep. The possibility that trillion dollar companies can laugh off or ignore the pitiful fines regulatory bodies are authorized to levy is truly a scary thought.

I'm guessing they use divestment when fines don't solve the concerns. That's one way to make a merger seem very unattractive.

 

[wolffy66]

They're not going to get PS6 early dev kits if the deal gets done sony already stated that.

I saw that.

What about Minecraft?

 

[jroc74]

So it's still better for Microsoft to at least try to close if there is no extension. Because yeah. You are risking fines and at worst you won't have ABK.
But. It can also end up that you will pay fines, CMA will work towards deal with Microsoft and you will have ABK. And I'm pretty sure that CMA will let Microsoft know what they are intended to do if Microsoft will try to close on Monday.

Like. You can't tell me that if you were Microsoft you would not at least try to complete it even with huge risk. There is no point for Microsoft to NOT try.

If I was MS, I wouldn't have flinched at selling off Activision. With King they have an absolute, immediate foothold in mobile gaming.

We are about to find out how much MS wants this deal to pass.

 

[Topher]

I'm guessing they use divestment when fines don't solve the concerns. That's one way to make a merger seem very unattractive.

But what happens if the company refuses to divest? More pitiful fines?

 

[Varteras]

Is it a big deal? Is it a big enough deal? I think we're gonna find out.

I still think the cma looks the other way, if MS closes, until they reach their decision.

 

[Banjo64]

Is it a big deal? Is it a big enough deal? I think we're gonna find out.

I still think the cma looks the other way, if MS closes, until they reach their decision.

You think the role of a regulator is to look the other way whilst a $2.5t company completely ignores your order and completes a $70b acquisition?

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Is it a big deal? Is it a big enough deal? I think we're gonna find out.

I still think the cma looks the other way, if MS closes, until they reach their decision.

Wild lmao

 

[wolffy66]

Right?

 

[Negotiator101]

Why shouldn't he?

They've said they are committed to continue to release the games on Playstation, it shouldn't necessitate a "deal".

Fair enough, deal not passed anyway so may not even happen.

 

[MasterCornholio]

But what happens if the company refuses to divest? More pitiful fines?

Maybe a reform to the law so they are more impactful to large companies?

 

[Roxkis_ii]

The extremes people are willing to go to get new gamepass content is wild.

 

[skit_data]

If these megacorps could just eat the fines and go about their business why would they even go through this whole process at all instead of just merging on the day they've come to an agreement?

 

[Topher]

Maybe a reform to the law so they are more impactful to large companies?

That definitely needs to happen.

 

[Ar¢tos]

But what happens if the company refuses to divest? More pitiful fines?

Frozen bank accounts, sales and services blocked, assets seizure, who knows, it's up to the courts after and can take years.

 

[Pop]

The extremes people are willing to go to get new gamepass content is wild.

People really like cheap(free) games it seems

 

[Zheph]

The extremes people are willing to go to get new gamepass content is wild.

There is so much you can do with backward compatibility...

 

[Varteras]

Right?

Have you been saved?

 

[FalsettoVibe]

The extremes people are willing to go to get new gamepass content is wild.

I not fully sure it's just that. Some of it simply has to be about just getting a "win". At this point I just need it to be over so the gaming community can get back to games.

 

[MasterCornholio]

That definitely needs to happen.

If anything they can use this merger as evidence.

 

[wolffy66]

Wild lmao

I know it makes Sony fans mad. But the reality is it's only a month. The cma just has to review the deal that MS has clearly sent them. They will say you shouldn't have closed. MS will say they had no choice. CMA will fine them. MS has $3B here to play with due to the deal with Activision. Then they will still follow thru with their hearing and will tell MS their decision. Obviously at that point things could get ugly for MS but I think they've already signaled what they want done behind closed doors.

 

[Varteras]

so the gaming community can get back to games.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

I know it makes Sony fans mad. But the reality is it's only a month. The cma just has to review the deal that MS has clearly sent them. They will say you shouldn't have closed. MS will say they had no choice. CMA will fine them. MS has $3B here to play with due to the deal with Activision. Then they will still follow thru with their hearing and will tell MS their decision. Obviously at that point things could get ugly for MS but I think they've already signaled what they want done behind closed doors.

The reality is they're not breaking the law. Get this fantasy out of your head already

 

[Negotiator101]

I know it makes Sony fans mad. But the reality is it's only a month. The cma just has to review the deal that MS has clearly sent them. They will say you shouldn't have closed. MS will say they had no choice. CMA will fine them. MS has $3B here to play with due to the deal with Activision. Then they will still follow thru with their hearing and will tell MS their decision. Obviously at that point things could get ugly for MS but I think they've already signaled what they want done behind closed doors.

You think they'll close without the CMA approval? That's a risky move.

 

[Gudji]

I saw that.

What about Minecraft?

They usually give the finalized kits or at a stage that leaking hardware details won't matter.

 

[adamsapple]

There is so much you can do with backward compatibility...

They already revived the old CoD MP servers.

I dream of a day with a 4K/60 BC version of Singularity.

They usually give the finalized kits or at a stage that leaking hardware details won't matter.

Yeah, there's a misconception, Sony said they won't send them EARLY, they didn't say they won't send the m PERIOD.

But this means that it might cause development issues in annual franchises, and the first year or two of the new generation might be forced to be BC version on the PS6 if Activision (under MS) doesn't have the dev kits early.