Support NeoGAF

[BlueLyria]

I kinda want MS close over the cma just to see if they get fined or nah now

 

[Corrik]

that was an exceptionally fast decision and just in the nick of time for Microsoft… that’s not suspicious at all

I wonder how long will it take for the FTC to appeal?

She literally said in the hearing that she would act quickly due to the deadline and said the FTC could have filed this long ago but chose to wait on purpose to near the deadline.

 

[adamsapple]

No it's not because both ABK and MS told the judge that this deal will be dead if they don't close it before July 18.

I mean, there was some urgency posturing involved there lol, but I guess Corley wasn't joking when she said it shouldn't take her months to reach this decision.

bitbydeath , see.

 

[Negotiator101]

Didn't really expect the FTC to win this. Just need to see if MS will close over the CMA or wait for that process to play out.

They have to as it falls outside the final date set to close. I have no clue the ramifications of doing that but anyone with half a brain knew the FTC had no case or at best was paper thin yet you had all the so called experts saying otherwise, lol.

 

[graywolf323]

Her changing the TRO too is some high level shit to be honest lol.

basically she thinks the FTC wouldn’t win on the merits when their claim is Microsoft is threatening to close the deal illegally before the 18th against the CMA

and she makes it so it’s possible for Microsoft to do exactly what the FTC accused them of which she denied?

 

[Varteras]

The issue now becomes the fact that they are flying completely solo.

But are they, though? With multiple regulators citing cloud gaming as a concern, one enforcing behavioral remedies, one regulator willing to block but not having the authority, and considering the CMA just got done blocking Meta by themselves... I don't know that's a strong case on its own.

The whole "oh they only have 5 more days to 'win" talking point is weird, ACTV and MS can always renegotiate and extend the term. There was nothing preventing that.

It's about ABK's willingness to pursue at this point considering they have yet to extend when they would have known the CMA process would be lengthy.

 

[GHG]

Doesn't the FTC have an appeal process? I don't think solo even bothers the CMA, it hasn't in the past.

Highly doubt the FTC will appeal. They simply don't have the capacity.

 

[LordCBH]

Least I get to continue eating popcorn lol

 

[Heisenberg007]

He's not even hiding being a plant. It's actually hilarious.

It's all corruption, so they don't really even care.

FTC didn't get the PI despite Microsoft literally talking about "spending Sony out of business" which means anything and everything is allowed. The judge essentially said that the FTC does not even need to investigate it further.

If those emails weren't leaked, perhaps it'd have made sense. But now it's like tooooo obvious lol.

 

[DryvBy]

Called it. Court system fails yet again lol

They always do. They'll have 1 company running all games and claim it's not a monopoly because some indie company still makes games.

 

[Historia]

FINALLY, SOME APPRECIATION!

I'm melting. RN

 

[GHG]

This thread is huge at 1300 pages and 67000 posts.

It’ll be laugh to see which posters who’ve been posting a ton in this thread suddenly disappear.

You're a bit late for that man.

Where were you when the CMA decision came out?

 

[Jigsaah]

Welp, there it is.

I knew the FTC was done. I held out hope but here we go.

So the next battle is the CMA...I'm guessing now Microsoft has to decide whether to close over them or not.

Microsoft better do us right. What's the saying go..."with great power comes great responsatrilitraus"?

 

[ToTTenTranz]

The judge went from not knowing much about economy to being a market expert in record time.

She went through a crash course.

Tutored by her own son, to keep it in the family.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

Even though the CMA is alone (unless the FTC keeps fighting) they have zero reason to change their stance because they are actually an effective regulatory body and MS can't close without the CMA or they have to abandon the UK as a market.

 

[wolffy66]

They have to as it falls outside the final date set to close. I have no clue the ramifications of doing that but anyone with half a brain knew the FTC had no case or at best was paper thin yet you had all the so called experts saying otherwise, lol.

The US hasn't blocked a vertical merger in decades. This wasn't gonna be the one to break that run.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

I forget who it was who posted a link telling all the big FTC cases they’ve lost lately.

What a joke.

You’d think out of all the organizations who’d know the most about mergers, acquisitions and anti-competitive deals etc…. It’s be the FTC. Turns out these lose to company lawyers who know more about it than them. Lol

That would be like taking a tax return to H&R block and it turns out you know more about tax filing, refunds and deductions more than the guy sitting at the desk taking your money.

 

[Heisenberg007]

The US hasn't blocked a vertical merger in decades. This wasn't gonna be the one to break that run.

But the FTC gets PI in 70% of the cases.

And this wasn't about blocking the merger. This case was about getting a PI.

 

[LordCBH]

The US hasn't blocked a vertical merger in decades. This wasn't gonna be the one to break that run.

Ya ain’t wrong. Though let’s be fair, there’s no merger that the US would actually block. None.

 

[DeepEnigma]

They always do. They'll have 1 company running all games and claim it's not a monopoly because some indie company still makes games.

So true, lol.

 

[adamsapple]

Ya ain’t wrong. Though let’s be fair, there’s no merger that the US would actually block. None.

To be fair, it's not like the FTC had a compelling case in the first place.

 

[Tefl0n]

Here for the salt

 

[porkchopexpress]

Whatever you think about the merger from a gaming industry perspective and I think this is not a good thing; this action by the FTC was always going to be a long shot given the realities of what the FTC was up against and the fact that mergers like this are basically never blocked in the US. The judge actually showed a pretty solid grasp of the issues during the case. It’s absurd that the narrative from some is going to be that this is about the judges son. The CMA is not going to be able to stop this merger from ultimately going through.

 

[ToTTenTranz]

Wonder if the FTC will appeal?

The FTC might have motive to appeal because of the judge's son working for Microsoft.

 

[Gaiff]

Not the least bit surprised at the decision. For one, I don't think this will change Sony's dominant position in the market, and for two, the FTC was out there fighting for Sony, not the consumers.

I would lol if people finally got tired of COD after this and moved onto something else.

 

[StreetsofBeige]

The US hasn't blocked a vertical merger in decades. This wasn't gonna be the one to break that run.

I said something similar in these threads. If the gov isn’t going to block telecom companies merging (Canada made some remark too lately yet they also let the biggest stores merge and Rogers/Shaw telecom just merged too lately), they’ll let anything.

And if there is a chance of denial it’s not going to be video games.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

 

[Adam_802]

One step closer

 

[Punished Miku]

By definition you are a fanboy if you support this merger.

Or a judge.

 

[Solidus_T]

I kinda want MS close over the cma just to see if they get fined or nah now

I would like to see what happens when they are ordered to sell ABK for a fraction of what they spent.
Over all though the CMA has still blocked this though so the whole situation is unlikely.

 

[LordCBH]

The FTC might have motive to appeal because of the judge's son working for Microsoft.

I don’t think so. They didn’t think it was a problem at the start when the judge told them about it.

 

[DeepEnigma]

I find that doubtful.

I'm not a UK guy so maybe things are different. But in the US I would expect the CMA appeal arguments to be based on evidence that CMA analyzed before their decision. Plus, I doubt the CMA considers or could prove that the judge is an expert on this. On top of that, if they disagreed with her ultimate analysis they would be saying she's wrong about everything expect one thing, which isn't a great look.

If CAT kicks it back to re-review, they now have new ammunition.

That is a big if.

 

[RedC]

Phil is Real

 

[GHG]

But the FTC gets PI in 70% of the cases.

And this wasn't about blocking the merger. This case was about getting a PI.

The bar for getting the PI isn't that high in all honesty, they just fumbled the bag in court.

 

[mayham2199]

Great so it sounds like they have no plans to close over the CMA from that statement.

 

[Thick Thighs Save Lives]

Thread merged

Me:

Well that was expected.

Anyway

Unless CAT agrees with the CMA findings.

 

[LordCBH]

The bar for getting the PI isn't that high in all honesty, they just fumbled the bag in court.

I’m still surprised they didn’t hammer cloud more. The sector where MS is actually truly prepared to starve out any potential competition.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Phil shows he cares about the players".

 

[Sanepar]

Welp.....as expected. Back in the CMA's hands then...

They will close. CMA will need to sue them.

 

[Heisenberg007]

working "creatively" lol

 

[FoxMcChief]

Phil shows he cares about the players".

Was that in question?

 

[adamsapple]

The FTC might have motive to appeal because of the judge's son working for Microsoft.

You should tweet this to the FTC, I'm sure they haven't heard this one before.

 

[mayham2199]

If CAT kicks it back to re-review, they now have new ammunition.

That is a big if.

What's the new ammunition? Nothing regarding cloud has changed.

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

So the FTC lost the PI hearing? It is what it is I guess.

I typed up a lot more but realized I was probably overreacting. Obviously have major concerns about what effects this acquisition can have in terms of encouraging mass consolidation of the biggest 3P companies in the market, let alone doubting Microsoft can effectively manage these acquired assets.

But there's still the CMA, and the FTC have options themselves. I'm guessing those ABK/Lulu/Sarah tweets were about this decision after all. Where is the class?

 

[intbal]

Happy Backwards Compatibility Day!

Microsoft, I have many requests.

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

Was that in question?

is not a question. is a fallacy.

 

[wolffy66]

basically she thinks the FTC wouldn’t win on the merits when their claim is Microsoft is threatening to close the deal illegally before the 18th against the CMA

and she makes it so it’s possible for Microsoft to do exactly what the FTC accused them of which she denied?

But the FTC gets PI in 70% of the cases.

And this wasn't about blocking the merger. This case was about getting a PI.

Correct but the judge obviously thought they wouldn't win. And she clearly thinks the FTC knew that and filed late as a way to work around that fact.

 

[Kilau]

Thread merged

Well that was expected.

Anyway

Unless CAT agrees with the CMA findings.

Nah, it's a done deal. The UK will find a way to as Brad just put it "creatively" come to a solution. This has all just been a side show while various entities take their pound of flesh. Move on and accept the new normal.

 

[mansoor1980]

 

[DeepEnigma]

What's the new ammunition? Nothing regarding cloud has changed.

The judge went on record during the trial stating that consoles will be extinct and that the cloud/streaming is the future, based on information the FTC and MS provided to the court.