Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard King for $69 Billion on 2023-10-13

[Deleted member 11852]

No, I pointed that out because while MS were attempting to establish Windows Phone, Microsoft were simultaneously (actually they started before the Windows Phone initiative) expanding their footprint on iOS and Andoid with mobile versions of their software ecosystem. IE - they weren't restricting those apps to Windows Phone, Microsoft apps on Windows Phone were generally also released on iOS and Android while MS were attempting to compete with iOS and Android phones.

Fair, but you also said "Just to name a few, embracing releasing apps on iOS and Android and ditching all plans for a MS powered phone.". To me, this made it sound like Microsoft did this for the good of the mobile operating system market, but they were forced to. Once their own platform disappeared, their choice was to eschew mobile or embrace Android and iOS.

Any strategy you are forced into by commercial reality, isn't something you get credit for. Like Commander Shepherd allying with Cerberus!

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I'm not sure why it should be easy?

Bobby Kotick said Activision considered putting certain IP on subscriptions services devalued the IP. There are few synonyms for devalue so google searches are few. I already did for the UK CMA and EU released and there was nothing! You're welcome!

But again, the fact that independent news sites were reacting to this information like it was new information despite having been following this saga for over a year.

 

[Shortbread]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674451581629071363

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674451790966792193

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674460557544398848

 

[Shortbread]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674456467636727823

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674456958659600391

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674457354845265921

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674457524492283922

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674457865426284552

 

[Shortbread]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674460814588395520

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674457986717175809

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674460283551506432

 

[Deleted member 11852]

WTF Microsoft. This undermines their "it would make no commercial sense to without Call of Duty from PlayStation" stance. Well, ok, sure, their numbers show that, but as statement intended to reassure regulators that Microsoft were not even considering that when they obviously spent a lot of effort running the numbers to see if it was viable, it only irreparably harms Microsoft's credibility.

Regardless of what happens in this particular acquisition, these disclosures will undermine Microsoft's credibility in every future acquisition investigation going forward. Even when telling the truth, regulators will be wondering if Microsoft are lying.

 

[eastmen]

CAT denied CMA's request to delay the hearing to October

There is a lot of over lap on these cases and I bet the CMA is listening to all this very closely and are seeing their main parts of the ruling systematicly dismantled.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

There is a lot of over lap on these cases and I bet the CMA is listening to all this very closely and are seeing their main parts of the ruling systematicly dismantled.

Which of the UK CMA's objections are shared by the FTC? Which are being dismantled?

Based on the FTC questioning, the NA concerns are completely differnet.

 

[eastmen]

Which of the UK CMA's objections are shared by the FTC? Which are being dismantled?

Based on the FYC questioning, the NA concerns are completely differnet.

Cloud. We have had multiple witnesses for the FTC say that cloud is just a part of the console market space and not its own thing.

Most of the rest of this is just arguements that the CMA already abandoned before giving their final verdict

 

[fehu]

What will happen WHEN the acquisition will fail and MS will have to pay anyway tons of exclusives equivalent in collaterals?

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Cloud. We have had multiple witnesses for the FTC say that cloud is just a part of the console market space and not its own thing.

Yes, Microsoft were forced to admit that their narrative on Microsoft's cloud technology was inconsistent dependant on weather is was public or aimed at investors, but what arguments have the FTC put forward that cloud is their concern?

I've seen nothing. On the other hand, Xbox CFO Tim Stuart just admitted Nintendo Switch is a competitor to Xbox and is harming Series S, which is contrary to their previous narrative that Nintendo was in a different performance category. This latest exchange that it's price, not performance, that is relevant. And it was Microsoft's own counsel who asked Tim Stuart this, so where the heck they're going with this unforced backtrack is anybody's guess.

Everybody involved has retained the worst legal counsel imaginable.

 

[Shortbread]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1674460024087937024

2021

Head of Xbox Phil Spencer has all but confirmed that The Elder Scrolls VI will be an Xbox console exclusive.

In an interview with British GQ, Spencer said that he sees the sequel to Skyrim as a similar case to fellow Bethesda title Starfield, which was confirmed for Xbox Series X/S and PC earlier this year.

2023

The news comes from the FTC vs Microsoft trial (full coverage here), in which Phil Spencer was asked about console exclusivity on Bethesda’s games. Speaking on Elder Scrolls 6, Spencer said, “With Elder Scrolls VI, it’s so far out–it’s hard to understand what platforms it will even be at this point. It’s the same team that’s finishing Starfield, which comes out this September. So we’re talking about a game that’s like five-plus years away.”

 

[Shortbread]

WTF Microsoft. This undermines their "it would make no commercial sense to without Call of Duty from PlayStation" stance. Well, ok, sure, their numbers show that, but as statement intended to reassure regulators that Microsoft were not even considering that when they obviously spent a lot of effort running the numbers to see if it was viable, it only irreparably harms Microsoft's credibility.

Regardless of what happens in this particular acquisition, these disclosures will undermine Microsoft's credibility in every future acquisition investigation going forward. Even when telling the truth, regulators will be wondering if Microsoft are lying.

This case is truly highlighting the gaslighting tactics and hypocrisy of Microsoft and Sony.

 

[Deleted member 11852]

I don't think anybody other than full on Microsoft sycophants really believed the narrative about Xbox want to end console exclusives and games being on all platforms. Sony certainly didn't, but then they never claimed too. This is really exposing how utterly divorced was the position on what Microsoft said, and what Microsoft planned.

Their whole PR war style narrative via Twitter makes a lot more sense now, because they must have known that this was all going to come out and they must have been planning to build support for as long as they could hoodwink people.

 

[eastmen]

Yes, Microsoft were forced to admit that their narrative on Microsoft's cloud technology was inconsistent dependant on weather is was public or aimed at investors, but what arguments have the FTC put forward that cloud is their concern?

I've seen nothing. On the other hand, Xbox CFO Tim Stuart just admitted Nintendo Switch is a competitor to Xbox and is harming Series S, which is contrary to their previous narrative that Nintendo was in a different performance category. This latest exchange that it's price, not performance, that is relevant. And it was Microsoft's own counsel who asked Tim Stuart this, so where the heck they're going with this unforced backtrack is anybody's guess.

Everybody involved has retained the worst legal counsel imaginable.

You missed Google's employee saying that cloud isn't its own market for one.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

I don't think anybody other than full on Microsoft sycophants really believed the narrative about Xbox want to end console exclusives

I can believe that. They'd rather console die and everyone move to streaming or PC or whatever. Once Sony's dead, games will be on every platform MS reaches - PC, Android, iOS - and there'll be no console exclusives. Save pesky Nintendo, but maybe MS can buy them...

 

[eastmen]

I don't think anybody other than full on Microsoft sycophants really believed the narrative about Xbox want to end console exclusives and games being on all platforms. Sony certainly didn't, but then they never claimed too. This is really exposing how utterly divorced was the position on what Microsoft said, and what Microsoft planned.

Their whole PR war style narrative via Twitter makes a lot more sense now, because they must have known that this was all going to come out and they must have been planning to build support for as long as they could hoodwink people.

MS's puts their other software on almost every platform I can't think of. So I am sure if people were buying more xboxs than the other platforms MS would do the same thing there because at that point it be free money. But they wouldn't do that until they were the dominate platform with no one else having a hope of catching up. But realisticly there isn't much you can do to make the hardware different at $500 in this day and age, there isn't much more you can do to an os or add any new disruptive features. So if Sony and Nintendo have exclusives plus MS's catalog what is the point of buying an xbox that doesn't have sony and nintendo games on it ?

 

[Deleted member 11852]

Microsoft now being forced to admit - by their own counsel - that Minecraft on PlayStation is twice as big as Xbox, and Switch is four times as big as Xbox. Microsoft's counsel has gone rogue. That Hoeg guy that iroboto has quoted a bunch does not seem at all happy with these turns of events.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Microsoft now being forced to admit - by their own counsel - that Minecraft on PlayStation is twice as big as Xbox, and Switch is four times as big as Xbox. Microsoft's counsel has gone rogue. That Hoeg guy that iroboto has quoted a bunch does not seem at all happy with these turns of events.

Doesn't that show the stupidity of making things exclusive, and indicate why MS would keep ABK content on other platforms?

 

[eastmen]

Doesn't that show the stupidity of making things exclusive, and indicate why MS would keep ABK content on other platforms?

It also checks out with install base as Sony outsells MS 2:1 and Age group as nintendo is 2:1 but also skus a bit younger.


"Tim Stuart explained that exclusivity is just part of the games industry. For multiplayer, highly popular games like CoD there's no point in making them exclusive."

Microsoft discussing with Xbox CFO Tim Stuart some Minecraft numbers.Throughout this process Microsoft has said that Minecraft is the best point of reference for what makes sense to do with respect to Call of Duty.

FTC now talking about a potential change in revenues on Sony's platforms that was considered as a possibility in Microsoft's financial model for the ABK deal.

FTC reads from Microsoft-internal email discussing hypothetical scenarios in which the revenue on Sony platforms would go down but revenue on Xbox might go up.

Now discussing the possibility of making up for a loss of revenues on PS with revenues on other platforms such as Nintendo.

I mean that is what would happen if sony said withheld ps6 dev kits or refused to sign a contract for cod releases.

FTC now bringing up the fact that in order for a Microsoft universal app store to work on Apple and Google, the current rules imposed by Apple and Google are an obstacle and it's not guaranteed that they can do it.

This is only on IOS. I can download any app store I want for my google powered samsung phone. It already has a samsung app store on it. Also the DOJ /EU are fighting to open up ios to third party app stores. Seems odd that FTC would be argueing against MS becoming another player in app stores.