Bet: Will the Activision Deal close? - It has closed

the-pi-guy · Jun 14, 2023, 08:46 PM

NEW: Microsoft is asking the judge overseeing the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction against the Activision deal to speed things up. A lot.

Says a hearing on the PI will determine the whole deal. Proposes doing it all in June, ahead of the July expiration of its bid pic.twitter.com/BybcgNLOdU
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 14, 2023

the-pi-guy · Jun 20, 2023, 08:35 PM

Unprompted, Microsoft PR sends this: "Unlike Sony, our most senior executives will testify in person to answer any questions about our business strategy. This deal means more choice for gamers, a fact that only becomes clearer the more you look at the case."

(Jim's via video!)
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 20, 2023

FTC makes clear that one of the things it wants to ask these folks about is the Xbox-Bethesda deal (only FTC i calling Hines, for example), as they've maintained that Microsoft's approach with Bethesda is what's going to happen with all Activision Blizzard games.
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 20, 2023

the-pi-guy · Jun 20, 2023, 08:36 PM

Followers of my recent journalism will realize this email was sent by Matt Booty. Imagine how I felt when I read on a Tuesday that the exec I had spoken to the Sunday before, had this claimed about him the Friday before that.

The one time I don't read my court docs on time!
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 20, 2023

kitler53 · Jun 20, 2023, 08:37 PM

that redfall quote is totally going to come up.

Legend · Jun 20, 2023, 09:26 PM

I hope there's a way to listen live like during the Epic vs Apple trial. This is gonna be funky!

the-pi-guy · Jun 22, 2023, 11:12 AM

Sony’s Jim Ryan said in a deposition back in April that if Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision happens, Sony won’t share any PS6 information with Activision developers, saying they will not be able to share relevant future console info to a developer owned by a competitor pic.twitter.com/Py0Ag554pc
— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 22, 2023

kitler53 · Jun 22, 2023, 12:23 PM

a fair point.

the-pi-guy · Jun 22, 2023, 01:56 PM

Microsoft:
- Redfall/Starfield are Xbox/PC-only: "keeping with the need to offer some exclusive content while mitigating the economic costs and damage to its player-focused brand"
- Redfall "generated minimal sales"
- "many other" future ZeniMax titles will be shipped on PS/Nint
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 22, 2023

kitler53 · Jun 22, 2023, 02:07 PM

so much bullsheet.

the-pi-guy · Jun 22, 2023, 05:12 PM

Quote"It is not an exclusivity play at all," said Ryan. "They're thinking bigger than that and they have the cash to make moves like this. I've spent a fair amount of time with [Phil] Spencer Bobby [Kotick] and I'm pretty sure we will continue to see Call of Duty on PlayStation for years to come."

Ryan went on to say, "We have some good stuff cooking. I'm not complacent, I'd rather this didn't happen, but we'll be OK, we'll be more than OK."

TheVerge

nnodley · Jun 22, 2023, 05:52 PM

Are we sure he didn't say this and then when MS tried to put years into a contract forto how long COD will be on PS, that they then got concerned they would pull COD after the contract?

Like if MS was never planning on making it exclusive they should never have to offer a 10 year deal for it. Its just asinine to believe MS isn't capable or willing to pull COD to damage playstation.

nnodley · Jun 22, 2023, 11:05 PM

From what I've been seeing the case against the FTC is not working very well for MS. I so hope this fudgy deal gets blocked.

kitler53 · Jun 22, 2023, 11:15 PM

Quote from: nnodley on Jun 22, 2023, 11:05 PMFrom what I've been seeing the case against the FTC is not worrying very well for MS. I so hope this fudgy deal gets blocked.

depends who you ask,.. era thinks MS is doing great!

i think it looks really bad from the perspective of gamers like us who know the industry well. i would say it's probably a complete toss up how the judge will react to the evidence. unfortunately i think it is up to the FTC to prove MSs guilt so none of this may be enough.

kitler53 · Jun 22, 2023, 11:45 PM

https://www.ign.com/articles/microsoft-xbox-call-of-duty-xbox

on my phone so I won't quote but a few interesting things in there.

Legend · Jun 22, 2023, 11:53 PM

Also this is not the trial. This is just to decide if Microsoft has to wait for the trial to buy.

Microsoft would like to win this but if they lose, they can still beat the FTC in August.