Financial Times Claims CMA Will Approve Microsoft-Activision Deal
The Financial Times doesn't have any insider to back up their claim, but admittedly, it is also what most observers think.
The Financial Times doesn't have any insider to back up their claim, but admittedly, it is also what most observers think.
It's clear at this point it isn't just a handful of senators and congresspeople - the US government has taken an interest in the Microsoft- Activision deal, and in Sony's game industry dominance.
The lawsuit now uses arguments that have already failed to convince the CMA.
Activision is no longer hesitant to tell the world what they think of Sony.
It's good news for Microsoft, but awkward given other recent news about the US Congress' interest in Japan's market.
This disagreement between Microsoft and Activision is one of those details you could miss if you were only paying attention to Sony's and Microsoft's back and forth.
Activision's claim is credible, but Microsoft's statement is counter to what the company has been building in the past few years.
It's an unusual arrangement, that amounts to Microsoft forcing Sony to let them make Call of Duty better for PlayStation players.
It's probably true that Call of Duty is a small segment of the PlayStation user base, but still makes a lot of money for them.
The UK regulator did their due diligence in looking at other big money shooter games, including the likes of Fortnite.
Most gamers probably take for granted how ubiquitous some of these publishers are.
Activision’s response to the CMA’s provisional findings is clear and direct. In that they bluntly tell the CMA they are wrong.
This seems to be a frivolous lawsuit filed by lawyers looking for a quick buck.
One of the CMA's respondents has even said that they believe the deal will create a level playing field between Xbox and PlayStation, and help smaller game companies like them.
Pachter isn't always right, but this is a good enough argument that Microsoft can use it to defend their deal.
This move comes as UK's CMA is finalizing their decision on the Microsoft - Activision deal.
This isn't Meservey acting like a wild card anymore, this is Activision saying and doing what they have to to defend the deal.
This argument won't end the debate about the Microsoft - Activision deal, but it should whittle down Sony's arguments even further.
It makes you wonder what Microsoft is really going to get out of all of this.
It's the very definition of too good to be true.
Microsoft has effectively made their case with the public.
Microsoft has proven that Sony isn’t actually the competition that regulators need to protect.
Brad Smith is in a significantly higher position than either Sony's Jim Ryan or Microsoft's Phil Spencer. His presence augurs something important that could happen in this hearing.
There should be no question as to why the unions want this deal to go through anymore.