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Well, the results are here. In the USA the FTC was trying to block Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard but Microsoft has won the fight. Now Microsoft are one big step closer to actually properly closing the deal, and a rather big consolidation of the gaming industry given how big Activision Blizzard are.

As per the decision:

Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has been described as the largest in tech history. It deserves scrutiny. That scrutiny has paid off: Microsoft has committed in writing, in public, and in court to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for 10 years on parity with Xbox. It made an agreement with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to Switch. And it entered several agreements to for the first time bring Activision’s content to several cloud gaming services.

This Court’s responsibility in this case is narrow. It is to decide if, notwithstanding these current circumstances, the merger should be halted—perhaps even terminated—pending resolution of the FTC administrative action. For the reasons explained, the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore DENIED.

This means the temporary restraining order against the acquisition will be removed on July 14th, unless the FTC obtains a "stay pending appeal from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals".

Microsoft still have a fight ahead in the UK though, since the CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) blocked the deal but naturally Microsoft is appealing the decision with a hearing set to begin on July 28th. So they're not completely out of the woods yet but it's probable Microsoft will end up winning there too. Update 16:21 UTC - Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President Microsoft, put a statement on Twitter:

After today's court decision in the U.S., our focus now turns back to the UK. While we ultimately disagree with the CMA’s concerns, we are considering how the transaction might be modified in order to address those concerns in a way that is acceptable to the CMA. In order to prioritize work on these proposals, Microsoft and Activision have agreed with the CMA that a stay of the litigation in the UK would be in the public interest and the parties have made a joint submission to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to this effect.

What do you think to this outcome?

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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63 comments
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Solarwing Jul 11, 2023
Microsoft bought the court with dirty money. Who knows what happens behind scenes. And now we're all doomed to a divine bond of M$ which even death cannot break! But Only one can! TUX!Our mascot against the M$ conspiracy!! Eh nice. Honestly I don't know if this is a good for game industry even if MS give some concessions. I don't like the idea of concentration of money here either. it can be bad in the long run. But We'll see what happens next
cybik Jul 11, 2023
On one side, consolidation is bad, yes.

On the other? Activision/Blizzard is so badly managed, so hostile and so much of a "let's pay Bobby to be the worst human" company (Kotick's salary is north of 125 MILLION USD) that I'm fine with Microsoft taking over, ejecting him, and forcing an actual corporate culture into the bloody thing instead of having a game development company operate completely out of spite.


Last edited by cybik on 11 July 2023 at 5:21 pm UTC
wvstolzing Jul 11, 2023
Speaking of a$$hole companies, did you all see this?
https://www.suse.com/news/SUSE-Preserves-Choice-in-Enterprise-Linux/
Purple Library Guy Jul 11, 2023
Quoting: RaabenThen go and push UWP again and so long WINE/Proton/Steam Deck (Unless that executable situation isn't as hopeless as everything I've read before).
I don't have a good memory for acronyms; what's a UWP?
Lomkey Jul 11, 2023
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Quoting: cybikOn one side, consolidation is bad, yes.

On the other? Activision/Blizzard is so badly managed, so hostile and so much of a "let's pay Bobby to be the worst human" company (Kotick's salary is north of 125 MILLION USD) that I'm fine with Microsoft taking over, ejecting him, and forcing an actual corporate culture into the bloody thing instead of having a game development company operate completely out of spite.

I still think Microsoft it's going to keep Bobby, Microsoft is just to busy to replace anyone important to keep the company going and making that big money. Just let see what happen next even if I don't agree Microsoft buying Blizzard.


Last edited by Lomkey on 11 July 2023 at 5:38 pm UTC
Pikolo Jul 11, 2023
The Judge's son works at Microsoft. Hopefully the appeals court can fix this
https://www.thebignewsletter.com/i/131506734/all-rise-a-conflicted-judge-gets-to-run-the-economy
Pikolo Jul 11, 2023
Quoting: Purple Library Guy
Quoting: RaabenThen go and push UWP again and so long WINE/Proton/Steam Deck (Unless that executable situation isn't as hopeless as everything I've read before).
I don't have a good memory for acronyms; what's a UWP?
Universal Windows Platform - Windows store applications are UWP. Basically a different SDK. They've allowed some non-UWP applications into the store since, but UWP apps don't run on Wine since there is nowhere to download them from
Raaben Jul 11, 2023
Quoting: PikoloUWP apps don't run on Wine since there is nowhere to download them from
Wasn't there some technical reason for them supposedly not being able to work in WINE? Encryption or something? Or am I remembering wrong?
Raaben Jul 11, 2023
Quoting: LomkeyI still think Microsoft it's going to keep Bobby, Microsoft is just to busy to replace anyone important to keep the company going and making that big money

I doubt he's going anywhere, maybe title shuffled or something for good press. Hate him as you will but the guy makes money. And time and time again, it's been shown that even with all the hatred people will never stop buying Acti products, so why bother replacing him?


Last edited by Raaben on 11 July 2023 at 6:06 pm UTC
MisterPaytwick Jul 11, 2023
This merger will not prevent Bobby "Please don't draw horns on my head because it ruins my love life" Kotick from staying. Even if he was kicked, he'd be with such a paycheck he'll just get to another CEO position.

Consolidation is such a nightmare. Well, I'm going indies all the way down for years now, I guess there is no redemption for that kind of structure anyway.

Quoting: wvstolzingSpeaking of a$$hole companies, did you all see this?
https://www.suse.com/news/SUSE-Preserves-Choice-in-Enterprise-Linux/

Wait, SuSE is actually picking to have competition over stagnation ? That's nice. Looking a bit harder at it, I guess it's wait and see again, sounds pretty opportunistic.


Last edited by MisterPaytwick on 11 July 2023 at 6:23 pm UTC
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