Microsoft is trying to acquire Activision Blizzard (UPDATE: CMA says NO!).

[MidWalian]

Doh.

 

[Uncle Mike]

"Mistake" seems like an understatement.

[MidWalian]

Back to the positive PR attempts, at least for now.

 

 

[Stanley]

State of that. 

[Boozy The Clown]

37 minutes ago, Stanley said:

State of that. 

 

 

Publishers push underpaid workers to long hours and shit conditions.  Boooo

 

Microsoft encourages unionisation for developers -   Boooooooo

[Stanley]

20 minutes ago, Boozy The Clown said:

 

 

Publishers push underpaid workers to long hours and shit conditions.  Boooo

 

Microsoft encourages unionisation for developers -   Boooooooo

More a comment on their hasty retreat from their previous accusations and instead now trying to push a workers rights angle. 

[Boozy The Clown]

Just pointing out they can't win.

 

 

 

 

[Stanley]

2 minutes ago, Boozy The Clown said:

Just pointing out they can't win.

 

 

 

 

Oh I’m sure they will. 

[footle]

1 hour ago, Stanley said:

More a comment on their hasty retreat from their previous accusations and instead now trying to push a workers rights angle. 

They’ve been pushing the workers rights angle for months. It’s pretty transparent, but they did get the relevant Union onside.

[Mr. Gerbik]

6 hours ago, Stanley said:

More a comment on their hasty retreat from their previous accusations and instead now trying to push a workers rights angle. 

So they should not encourage worker's rights? I'm not sure what you're trying to say you'd rather see. Is this not a positive end result?

[Stanley]

6 minutes ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

So they should not encourage worker's rights? I'm not sure what you're trying to say you'd rather see. Is this not a positive end result?

Of course they should, but coming off the back of calling the FTC unconstitutional makes it look a tad disingenuous, no? 

[Mr. Gerbik]

6 minutes ago, Stanley said:

Of course they should, but coming off the back of calling the FTC unconstitutional makes it look a tad disingenuous, no? 

As has been said, they've been pushing this angle since before they announced they were going to acquire Activision. Maybe this thing makes them push that angle even harder, but is that a bad thing?

[Stanley]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Gerbik said:

As has been said, they've been pushing this angle since before they announced they were going to acquire Activision. Maybe this thing makes them push that angle even harder, but is that a bad thing?

I think they are two separate issues. One is workers rights, the other looks like them stamping their feet when they don’t get what they want. 

[TehStu]

The FTC thing was ridiculous, I can't believe anyone signed off on that approach.

[MidWalian]

Drama update.

Quote

BRUSSELS, Jan 16 (Reuters) - Microsoft (MSFT.O) is likely to receive an EU antitrust warning about its $69 billion bid for "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O), people familiar with the matter said, that could pose another challenge to completing the deal.

 

The European Commission is readying a charge sheet known as a statement of objections setting out its concerns about the deal which will be sent to Microsoft in the coming weeks, the people said.

 

https://www.reuters.com/technology/microsoft-faces-eu-antitrust-warning-over-activision-deal-sources-2023-01-16/

[Gabe]

According to the Era thread, that isn't drama at all really and is part of the normal process. Following the issue of the statement of objections they can then get on with negotiating on what concessions may need to be made - I think MS were hoping to get the negotiations done with the statement of objections but the EU has said no (which is the sum of this article.)

 

I think that's the position, at any rate.

[thesnwmn]

5 hours ago, Gabe said:

According to the Era thread, that isn't drama at all really and is part of the normal process. Following the issue of the statement of objections they can then get on with negotiating on what concessions may need to be made - I think MS were hoping to get the negotiations done with the statement of objections but the EU has said no (which is the sum of this article.)

 

I think that's the position, at any rate.

 

Well yes. To an extent.

 

This is absolutely part of the process where there are issues the EU wants resolved.

 

But the "no drama" outcome would have been a simple rubber stamp from the EU.

 

By the sound of it they're not getting that. So they have to do something to satisfy the commission. All the article says is this, plus that whilst they're having informal chats about concessions, they won't really matter until the EU has published their concerns and MS can properly respond.

 

Until we know what the EU say is problematic we won't know.if there is fire, but there is definitely smoke.

[Gabe]

4 hours ago, thesnwmn said:

 

Well yes. To an extent.

 

This is absolutely part of the process where there are issues the EU wants resolved.

 

But the "no drama" outcome would have been a simple rubber stamp from the EU.

 

By the sound of it they're not getting that. So they have to do something to satisfy the commission. All the article says is this, plus that whilst they're having informal chats about concessions, they won't really matter until the EU has published their concerns and MS can properly respond.

 

Until we know what the EU say is problematic we won't know.if there is fire, but there is definitely smoke.

True, but the fact MS had already entered into informal discussions means they knew it wasn't going to pass without a hitch. The extent of that is to be agreed, of course. 

[MidWalian]

Wasn't long ago the Era thread was going on about only the FTC may have issues with the deal. It's bizarre.

 

I agree that what is happening should be part of the process though and concessions have already been offered and more may need to come.

[MidWalian]

*sigh*

 

[Cyhwuhx]

It's pretty the clear authorities are experiencing an Internet Explorer-induced kneejerk reaction, but Microsoft ain't exactly doing much to help them think otherwise with comments like these.

[MidWalian]

Happy one year anniversary to the announcement.

 

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2022/01/18/welcoming-activision-blizzard-to-microsoft-gaming/

 

Still no Sekiro on game pass.

[Mr. Gerbik]

I think you mean, still no Tenchu on BC or game pass.

 

 

 

[deerokus]

Still no Tony Hawk's 3+4.

[PaB]

 

On 07/01/2023 at 11:54, Boozy The Clown said:

 

 

Publishers push underpaid workers to long hours and shit conditions.  Boooo

 

Microsoft encourages unionisation for developers -   Boooooooo

 

Microsoft lays off 10,000 workers. Booooooo

[MidWalian]

1 hour ago, PaB said:

 

 

Microsoft lays off 10,000 workers. Booooooo

 

That's a bit shit.

 

 

[Stanley]

I mean they need an extra 10,000 in Bethesda alone, they might get a game out then. 
 

Seriously though what does “being a no. 4 player” even mean? 

 

[Sarlaccfood]

Going back to the start of the thread and it’s amazing the difference a year makes.

 

Chests puffed-out, talking about “copium” and what not. 

[Giddas]

6 minutes ago, Sarlaccfood said:

Going back to the start of the thread and it’s amazing the difference a year makes.

 

Chests puffed-out, talking about “copium” and what not. 

 

"You don't spend $70bn to stay multiplatform."

 

In fact you might not spend it at all

[MidWalian]

Hope you don't mind me adding this @Nate Dogg III