EU Regulators Approve Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition

[Camm]

DRM like the shared gamepass?

They're not the dominant store... yet



The size is overwhelmingly different, of course those also matter but Microsoft is a much bigger beast.

Tencent & Sony will still remain larger than Microsoft after this.

 

[ValenOne]

DRM like the shared gamepass?

They're not the dominant store... yet



The size is overwhelmingly different, of course those also matter but Microsoft is a much bigger beast.

1. Your argument is speculative, not based on current facts.

2. Windows 10/11 and Xbox Series X games have separate builds. Your argument is about shared license rights, not shared game code builds e.g. insert the XBO game disc and run it on Windows 10 / 11.

Windows 11 DirectX12U with NVIDIA or Intel GPUs gaming PCs do not support Xbox One / Xbox Serise S/X near the hit-the-metal ecosystem that is coupled with its DirectX12U variant.

Strip away Microsoft's Xbox Play Anywhere marketing, it's still separated.

Windows is an open platform while Nintendo's and Sony's platforms are walled gardens.

 

[lexluthermiester]

No one's complained about Tencent or Embracer yet

That's because the article is about the ms/activision/blizzard merger.

so why would I hold a different standard to Microsoft?

I'm not. I'm staying on topic.

 

[Camm]

That's because the article is about the ms/activision/blizzard merger.


I'm not. I'm staying on topic.

The topic is on the basis of consolidation of the market and its impact, it is entirely on point to talk about the consolidation driven by Tencent & Embracer and how that compares.

 

[shk021051]

good i need diablo on game pass

 

[Vayra86]

This is the same EU that went nuts because of a web browser back in the day. I'm sure there were money involved, not directly, i don't mean bribes, but compensations for other parts of the economy in the EU vs US trade negotiations. Video games, consoles, don't mean much for the EU, they picked their fights.

I think you might be right here.

And I think indeed video games are not considered critical enough to worry about. At the same time, it is part of the market the EU wants to regulate so well, so that then doesn't really mix well.

But yeah, picking fights they are, and FWIW, some good progress has been made. I guess we can't have everything.

Either way MS can buy whatever they like, I just don't do on-demand services for gaming at all, my care level is sub zero. MS also means 'MainStream'... well take a look at Game Pass and you see that is what you get: the exact games I generally avoid, or only play feature/DLC complete at a minimum price and then forget about entirely. EA just opened its floodgates of yearly filler content for Game Pass.

I seriously am going to love not going into that shithole, and not giving MS a dime. They can stick their corporate power grab with the sheep that love their yearly rehashes.

 

[gQx]

So diablo 4 will have an auction house after all?

 

[Arco]

I for one, welcome our new gaming overlords.

 

[64K]

I for one, welcome our new gaming overlords.

Please tell me that you're just trolling us and that you are not being sincere.

 

[Arco]

Please tell me that you're just trolling us and that you are not being sincere.

Nah I'm trolling. I love dystopia.

 

[colossusrageblack]

I own two PS5s, I wish all of my games on that platform were on PC, maybe MS can make that happen one day.

 

[chrcoluk]

Its bad news.

Microsoft basically had a choice of making more games (good for consumer), or buying up existing IP via buying a publisher (bad for consumers).

This ultimately means less games, we going further down that narrowing cone.

Too many publishers deciding they prefer to keep releasing games as a service, and sticking to known successful brands instead of new ideas and new content.

I own two PS5s, I wish all of my games on that platform were on PC, maybe MS can make that happen one day.

I have observed a lot of the third party exclusivity deals for PS5 now dont exclude PC, typically they timed exclusive PS5 only, then make it to PC, but never to Xbox.

 

[JimmyDoogs]

Microsoft please buy Activision from Bobby Kotick so we can give these workers rights.

 

[Hammerman]

Windows is an open platform while Nintendo's and Sony's platforms are walled gardens.

You are wasting people's time with statements like these. Open or closed does not mean good or bad. It just shows you are not an expert on this subject matter.

 

[ValenOne]

You are wasting people's time with statements like these. Open or closed does not mean good or bad. It just shows you are not an expert on this subject matter.

Your " It just shows you are not an expert on this subject matter" is garbage.

Its bad news.

Microsoft basically had a choice of making more games (good for consumer), or buying up existing IP via buying a publisher (bad for consumers).

This ultimately means less games, we going further down that narrowing cone.

Too many publishers deciding they prefer to keep releasing games as a service, and sticking to known successful brands instead of new ideas and new content.

I have observed a lot of the third party exclusivity deals for PS5 now dont exclude PC, typically they timed exclusive PS5 only, then make it to PC, but never to Xbox.

Sony is king at buying game studios and extensive game and IP exclusives. Note why Xbox was memed as "Xbox has no games". Look in the mirror.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acquisitions_by_Sony

Not including Sony Pictures Entertainment's exclusive IPs.

 

[Hammerman]

Your " It just shows you are not an expert on this subject matter" is garbage.


Sony is king at buying game studios and extensive game and IP exclusives. Note why Xbox was memed as "Xbox has no games". Look in the mirror.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acquisitions_by_Sony

View attachment 296277

Not including Sony Pictures Entertainment's exclusive IP.

This is not the winning argument you think it is. MS technically have a greater ecosystem and backing. What is lacking on their end? Are they poor? Struggling to employ? Invest in studios? Invest in games?

We cant be pro monopoly and competitive. Its one or the other.

 

[ValenOne]

This is not the winning argument you think it is. MS technically have a greater ecosystem and backing. What is lacking on their end? Are they poor? Struggling to employ? Invest in studios? Invest in games?

We cant be pro monopoly and competitive. Its one or the other.

-----
For the UK market

For 2022, Xbox only has 10.9% of the UK game console market.

"Walled garden" consoles are no different from "walled garden" entertainment cloud platforms.

 

[chrcoluk]

Your " It just shows you are not an expert on this subject matter" is garbage.


Sony is king at buying game studios and extensive game and IP exclusives. Note why Xbox was memed as "Xbox has no games". Look in the mirror.

From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_acquisitions_by_Sony

View attachment 296277

Not including Sony Pictures Entertainment's exclusive IPs.

What has Sony got to do with my comment, I dont post opinions based on brand, I know Sony have their own anti consumer practices as well.

View attachment 296334

-----
For the UK market
View attachment 296335
For 2022, Xbox only has 10.9% of the UK game console market.

"Walled garden" consoles are no different from "walled garden" entertainment cloud platforms.

Eye opening numbers, if Microsoft didnt have such deep pockets, the console brand might have already had an end announced.

 

[ValenOne]

What has Sony got to do with my comment, I dont post opinions based on brand, I know Sony have their own anti consumer practices as well.

The regulator's judgments are based on the current market environment.

 

[lexluthermiester]

The topic is on the basis of consolidation of the market and its impact, it is entirely on point to talk about the consolidation driven by Tencent & Embracer and how that compares.

No, the above article is about the microsoft/activision/blizzard merger. WE USERS are discussing the finer points. Context is important. We are NOT discussing Tencent or Embracer because that would be off topic. And while those two companies are just as guilty, if not more, they are not the subject of the article and further discussion would go down a rabbit hole we don't need to jump into.

EDIT:
And for the record, I'm not mini-modding. I'm trying to keep us on topic so the mods don't have a reason to have to do what they do.

The regulator's judgments are based on the current market environment.

While that can be true, they are obligated to keep the future effect of said merger in focus. This merger is where the line needs to be drawn as microsoft has gotten too big for it's britches. Enough is enough.

 

[ValenOne]

No, the above article is about the microsoft/activision/blizzard merger. WE USERS are discussing the finer points. Context is important. We are NOT discussing Tencent or Embracer because that would be off topic. And while those two companies are just as guilty, if not more, they are not the subject of the article and further discussion would go down a rabbit hole we don't need to jump into.

EDIT:
And for the record, I'm not mini-modding. I'm trying to keep us on topic so the mods don't have a reason to have to do what they do.


While that can be true, they are obligated to keep the future effect of said merger in focus. This merger is where the line needs to be drawn as microsoft has gotten too big for it's britches. Enough is enough.

That's a false narrative.

US FTC lied about the Microsoft-Activision merger and the EU Commission defended MS.

EU Contradicts FTC Claim About Microsoft Activision Blizzard Acquisition

The EU Commission issues a response refuting a key claim from the FTC's argument against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

gamerant.com

The EU Commission issues a response refuting a key claim from the FTC's argument against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

 

[lexluthermiester]

That's a false narrative.
View attachment 296443

US FTC lied about the Microsoft-Activision merger and the EU Commission defended MS.

EU Contradicts FTC Claim About Microsoft Activision Blizzard Acquisition

The EU Commission issues a response refuting a key claim from the FTC's argument against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

gamerant.com

The EU Commission issues a response refuting a key claim from the FTC's argument against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Wow. Does the term "cherry-picking" mean anything to you? Don't try too hard...

 

[ValenOne]

Wow. Does the term "cherry-picking" mean anything to you? Don't try too hard...

Being "too big" implies a comparison with other competitors. You can't see your own double standards.

 

[lexluthermiester]

Being "too big" implies a comparison with other competitors.

No, being "too big" directly implies they have too much power. Context is important and you're missing some key points.

You can't see

Irony.

 

[ValenOne]

No, being "too big" directly implies they have too much power. Context is important and you're missing some key points.

Irony.

Prove it.

The real irony.
---

Switch = 107 million
PS4 / PS4 Pro = 116 million
PS5 = 38 million (extends PS4 runtime ecosystem)

vs

XBO / X1X = 63 million
XSX = 13 million (extends XBO runtime ecosystem)
XSS = 8 million (extends XBO runtime ecosystem)

Windows 10 / 11 DirectX12U doesn't extend the XBO runtime ecosystem due to hit-the-metal (coupled with DirectX12U Xbox differences) and DRM incompatibilities. Windows is an open platform that allows 3rd party gaming eStores to be established.