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[Infamy v1]

Some big dick energy right there. They seem pretty confident the deal would move to phase 2 regardless, like any other big M&A, and the CMA is just posturing (which is what credible people have said all along).

Microsoft's $75bn acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard faces in-depth probes in Brussels and the UK following growing concerns the deal is anti-competitive and will exclude rivals from accessing the blockbuster game Call of Duty.

It comes as the UK's Competition and Markets Authority is expected to launch an in-depth investigation this week after Microsoft decided not to offer any remedies at this stage, according to two individuals with knowledge of the situation.

Microsoft opted not to offer any remedies to the CMA at this stage because there were no obvious commitments the UK regulator would be likely to accept, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

The watchdog does not generally accept behavioural remedies, such as commitments to maintain access to a product or service, at the end of a phase 1 probe apart from in rare circumstances.

One competition lawyer with knowledge of the case said it was "almost impossible" for Microsoft to offer a remedy that would prevent the investigation moving to an in-depth antitrust probe.

https://www.ft.com/content/a55cc28e-3092-4725-a1a0-97c1bf6eed0f

 

[Timberwolf25]

They shouldn't have to so they didn't.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Based.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Microsoft's $75bn acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard faces in-depth probes in Brussels and the UK following growing concerns the deal is anti-competitive and will exclude rivals from accessing the blockbuster game Call of Duty.

WTF did I just read? How can this even be an argument?

 

[adamsapple]

Microsoft opted not to offer any remedies to the CMA at this stage because there were no obvious commitments the UK regulator would be likely to accept, according to people with knowledge of the situation.

Badass.

WTF did I just read? How can this even be an argument?

"Jim told us to say that" - CMA.

 

[Wandering Leopard]

Assuming this goes through (which I think it will), this will be the last time they're able to purchase a big publisher.

 

[AetherZX]

WTF did I just read? How can this even be an argument?

It also seems framed as if Nintendo doesn't exist right now, despite literally thriving without CoD for years, lol.

Feels weird how loudly the "b-b-b-but CoD!" drum is being pounded right now.

 

[Punished Miku]

"It was adequate on every level."
- Phil Spencer

 

[ChorizoPicozo]

These people (green-blue rats) are missing the point (of the drama):

Is not about the acquisition. Is about Call of Duty.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Sony and others want the commission to force Microsoft to offer guarantees that they will be able to access all games “on equal terms and in perpetuity”.

 

[Infamy v1]

WTF did I just read? How can this even be an argument?

That's exactly why they're not even bothering to respond to them, lol.

 

[Cyberpunkd]

Monolith Soft going multiplayer when? Bungie?

 

[jaysius]

This is fun, lets see all the Wall Street Tycoons(I mean hey they might have played a game called that right?) the MBAs that are all over GAF to weigh in on this technical business issue.

 

[SlimySnake]

Interesting. The most obvious remedy wouldve been the guarantee that CoD would never become exclusive, but clearly they dont want to do that. This was never a Minecraft style acquisition. Their objective wasnt to be this pro-consumer company offering CoD on gamepass for free. It was always about putting Sony either out of business or getting Sony to put gamepass on playstation. No one spends $75 billion just to get a gamepass title. They couldve had it for a couple of hundred million max every year if they really cared about being pro-consumer and putting cod on gamepass.

 

[Kenneth Haight]

 

[ManaByte]

It also seems framed as if Nintendo doesn't exist right now, despite literally thriving without CoD for years, lol.

Nintendo doesn't need CoD. They went and created their own MP shooter and shattered sales records with it.

 

[Interfectum]

I wonder if Phil loses credibility with the MS top brass if this deal ends up failing.

 

[reksveks]

Interesting. The most obvious remedy wouldve been the guarantee that CoD would never become exclusive, but clearly they dont want to do that. This was never a Minecraft style acquisition. Their objective wasnt to be this pro-consumer company offering CoD on gamepass for free. It was always about putting Sony either out of business or getting Sony to put gamepass on playstation. No one spends $75 billion just to get a gamepass title. They couldve had it for a couple of hundred million max every year if they really cared about being pro-consumer and putting cod on gamepass.

Or they are just waiting to see what the CMA were going to say in Phase 2 before making concessions.

No point over-promising now.

 

[Guilty_AI]

The real plot twist will be if COD shrinks and becomes irrelevant before the deal can even be finished

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Interesting. The most obvious remedy wouldve been the guarantee that CoD would never become exclusive, but clearly they dont want to do that.

Maybe, but that's not what this means. No amount of concessions would've led the CMA to not move to phase 2, that's why Microsoft didn't even acknowledge the five day period.

 

[Andodalf]

Jim Messed up here, wasted some political pull for absolutely nothing in the long term.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

This has nothing to do with "big dick energy". They're not offering any remedies because these agencies don't accept concessions at the end of Phase 1.
They know it's going to phase 2 regardless, afterwards concessions can be made while the deal is investigated more.

 

[GHG]

Well this is certainly going to get spicy.

 

[Kagey K]

The real plot twist will be if COD shrinks and becomes irrelevant before the deal can even be finished

There's a very good chance this year is the biggest CoD launch in years.

 

[Interfectum]

Jim Messed up here, wasted some political pull for absolutely nothing in the long term.

Nah. He's simply tossing a wrench in the works to kick the can down the road. Maybe this will buy Sony another year or two of COD which gives them time for their own multiplayer titles to take off and/or for COD fever to finally die out.

This seems like a pretty basic strategy but console warriors are taking it personally.

 

[TheGodfather07]

Interesting. The most obvious remedy wouldve been the guarantee that CoD would never become exclusive, but clearly they dont want to do that. This was never a Minecraft style acquisition. Their objective wasnt to be this pro-consumer company offering CoD on gamepass for free. It was always about putting Sony either out of business or getting Sony to put gamepass on playstation. No one spends $75 billion just to get a gamepass title. They couldve had it for a couple of hundred million max every year if they really cared about being pro-consumer and putting cod on gamepass.

Exactly. They didn't spend all that just for gamepass. They wanted to own the cod ip, remove it off PlayStation and really hurt the brand. Same for the Bethesda acquisition. It makes Microsoft instantly stronger, while weakening their competition. If there was a guarantee that cod stays on Playstation, it would be a massive waste of 70b.

 

[Infamy v1]

Interesting. The most obvious remedy wouldve been the guarantee that CoD would never become exclusive, but clearly they dont want to do that. This was never a Minecraft style acquisition. Their objective wasnt to be this pro-consumer company offering CoD on gamepass for free. It was always about putting Sony either out of business or getting Sony to put gamepass on playstation. No one spends $75 billion just to get a gamepass title. They couldve had it for a couple of hundred million max every year if they really cared about being pro-consumer and putting cod on gamepass.

Or, if you didn't view the world in fanboy goggles, no company in their right mind would offer an agreement to their rival for permanent support in perpetuity, especially after spending so much money, and especially after said rival has tried to put them out of business with practices that make their outcries sound incredibly hypocritial and laughable.

 

[Banjo64]

I wonder if Phil loses credibility with the MS top brass if this deal ends up failing.

This is a Microsoft purchase, not just Xbox - and MS will just be following the guidance of their legal counsel, as every company does. They think it’ll go through, but they won’t be stupid enough to think it’s guaranteed, as nothing is in life. So no, it won’t have any impact on Phil’s standing.

 

[recursive]

WTF did I just read? How can this even be an argument?

Everything comes down to money. Always.

 

[DeepEnigma]

 

[ChiefDada]

Some big dick energy right there. They seem pretty confident the deal would move to phase 2 regardless, like any other big M&A, and the CMA is just posturing (which is what credible people have said all along).

They shouldn't have to so they didn't.

Based.

How did you all get to this conclusion, especially OP since he posted exact verbiage from article?


"Microsoft opted not to offer any remedies to the CMA at this stage because there were no obvious commitments the UK regulator would be likely to accept, according to people with knowledge of the situation.


Meaning Microsoft understood there was nothing they could offer that would prevent regulators from proceeding with their investigation. If anything it is UK regulators with "big dick energy" or "based". Lol, children.

 

[Guilty_AI]

There's a very good chance this year is the biggest CoD launch in years.

uh, a remake/reimagining? If thats the best thing that can come out in years, the chances of it dying might just be less than an 'if'.

 

[GHG]

Or they are just waiting to see what the CMA were going to say in Phase 2 before making concessions.

No point over-promising now.

Yeh it's literally spelt out in the article:

The watchdog does not generally accept behavioural remedies, such as commitments to maintain access to a product or service, at the end of a phase 1 probe apart from in rare circumstances.

One competition lawyer with knowledge of the case said it was "almost impossible" for Microsoft to offer a remedy that would prevent the investigation moving to an in-depth antitrust probe.

The drama continues, buckle up everyone.

 

[Elios83]

As the article's title states:

Microsoft’s Activision deal faces in-depth probes in Brussels and London

So Europe is expected to take the same position as UK, this will go through a long second phase investigation process and Microsoft is risking that the terms will be dictated by regulators at a later stage instead of trying to smooth things now by their own will.
But I guess it's part of a gambling game of trying to make this pass without restrictions and no clear indications by CMA at this stage as the article explains.
We'll see what happens, certainly this is not going as smoothly as some people expected.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

There was never any doubt all would go to phase 2, hence they told us from the start by June 30th, 2023 latest for expected closing.

 

[AetherZX]

Nintendo doesn't need CoD. They went and created their own MP shooter and shattered sales records with it.

A certain company should learn from them about that.

 

[Infamy v1]

How did you all get to this conclusion, especially OP since he posted exact verbiage from article?


"Microsoft opted not to offer any remedies to the CMA at this stage because there were no obvious commitments the UK regulator would be likely to accept, according to people with knowledge of the situation.


Meaning Microsoft understood there was nothing they could offer that would prevent regulators from proceeding with their investigation. If anything it is UK regulators with "big dick energy" or "based". Lol, children.

They were literally told, in public, to offer a remedy and given a timeline or else this goes to phase 2. Microsoft didn't budge for the reasons stated. CMA were posturing. Even Hoeg was confused by their tweets.

 

[Timberwolf25]

How did you all get to this conclusion, especially OP since he posted exact verbiage from article?


"Microsoft opted not to offer any remedies to the CMA at this stage because there were no obvious commitments the UK regulator would be likely to accept, according to people with knowledge of the situation.


Meaning Microsoft understood there was nothing they could offer that would prevent regulators from proceeding with their investigation. If anything it is UK regulators with "big dick energy" or "based". Lol, children.

My conclusion is that MS is doing nothing wrong in trying to acquire Activision whether they intend to ever make CoD exclusive or not. Acquiring ABK and even other big dev studios later down the line does not constitute a monopoly when you have other big players in the market.

 

[fermcr]

Microsoft should just forget about Activision/Blizzard and go for Take-Two. It would be much cheaper and better for them...

 

[DForce]

How did you all get to this conclusion, especially OP since he posted exact verbiage from article?


"Microsoft opted not to offer any remedies to the CMA at this stage because there were no obvious commitments the UK regulator would be likely to accept, according to people with knowledge of the situation.


Meaning Microsoft understood there was nothing they could offer that would prevent regulators from proceeding with their investigation. If anything it is UK regulators with "big dick energy" or "based". Lol, children.

They believe everything that MS says is gangsta shit.

 

[Gamer_By_Proxy]

This is what I thought MS should do about the CoD existing contract.
I thought the 3 years past the contract showed that MS thinks they need to make some concession, instead of just sticking to the legal contract.

 

[Kagey K]

uh, a remake/reimagining? If thats the best thing that can come out in years, the chances of it dying might just be less than an 'if'.

It's a sequel to MW2019 not a remake or reimagining.

 

[GHG]

They were literally told, in public, to offer a remedy and given a timeline or else this goes to phase 2. Microsoft didn't budge for the reasons stated. CMA were posturing. Even Hoeg was confused by their tweets.

Going to phase 2 is posturing now?

That's a new one.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

How did you all get to this conclusion, especially OP since he posted exact verbiage from article?


"Microsoft opted not to offer any remedies to the CMA at this stage because there were no obvious commitments the UK regulator would be likely to accept, according to people with knowledge of the situation.


Meaning Microsoft understood there was nothing they could offer that would prevent regulators from proceeding with their investigation. If anything it is UK regulators with "big dick energy" or "based". Lol, children.

This. lol.

 

[Infamy v1]

Going to phase 2 is posturing now?

That's a new one.

Reading comprehension is too much for you, it seems. Try again.

 

[Wandering Leopard]

The real plot twist will be if COD shrinks and becomes irrelevant before the deal can even be finished

It'll happen eventually (who knows exactly when), it's currently on the decline and nothing stays on top forever.

A new "formula" will come out of nowhere and become the new hotness.

 

[Banjo64]

This has nothing to do with "big dick energy". They're not offering any remedies because these agencies don't accept concessions at the end of Phase 1.
They know it's going to phase 2 regardless, afterwards concessions can be made while the deal is investigated more.

No playa dis shit gangsta as fuck Phil Dog himself just hung up da phone when da britbong said please

 

[tmlDan]

I think if any of us worked for Sony we would try to do the same.

Doesn't mean it'll work. I guess we wait and see!

 

[Sosokrates]

WTF did I just read? How can this even be an argument?

Its fan fiction.

 

[GHG]

Reading comprehension is too much for you, it seems. Try again.

You're the ones using words that make no sense given the context. Whether you like it or not, the CMA hold all the cards in this situation.