Err... isn't this a decision independent of our leadership.
Surely interfering would be telling the CMA that for *insert reason here* the government is overruling their decision. Which sounds like a barrel of worms.
Microsoft acquire Activision
- Thread starter antijoke
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Err... isn't this a decision independent of our leadership.
Surely interfering would be telling the CMA that for *insert reason here* the government is overruling their decision. Which sounds like a barrel of worms.
They are wrong and also its nothing to do with our leadership.
Associate
Exactly this. Honestly I can't see ms getting this deal over the line now. I don't really care if they do or don't but each time they gain they get pushed right back
I agree but we will get there at some point.
Invoking brexit now... 
The English Channel has "never seemed wider", with the EU a more attractive business destination than Britain, Microsoft has said after its £55bn gaming mega-merger was struck down.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and vice chairman, heavily criticised the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after it blocked a gaming mega merger between Microsoft and Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard.
He told the BBC: "There's a clear message here - the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom."
He added: "The English Channel has never seemed wider."
Mr Smith said while industry had hoped post Brexit the UK would slash red tape and become "more flexible" and open to investment, "the opposite appears to be true".
The deal has been fiercely opposed by Sony, the maker of the PlayStation console, which has claimed Xbox-designer Microsoft would use the deal to shut it out from the lucrative military action franchise.
Microsoft and Activision, however, accused the regulator of hobbling Britain's technology sector by discouraging investment.
Mr Smith told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme the decision was "bad for Britain".
He added: "People are shocked, people are disappointed, and people's confidence in technology in the UK has been severely shaken."
The English Channel has "never seemed wider", with the EU a more attractive business destination than Britain, Microsoft has said after its £55bn gaming mega-merger was struck down.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and vice chairman, heavily criticised the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after it blocked a gaming mega merger between Microsoft and Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard.
He told the BBC: "There's a clear message here - the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom."
He added: "The English Channel has never seemed wider."
Mr Smith said while industry had hoped post Brexit the UK would slash red tape and become "more flexible" and open to investment, "the opposite appears to be true".
The deal has been fiercely opposed by Sony, the maker of the PlayStation console, which has claimed Xbox-designer Microsoft would use the deal to shut it out from the lucrative military action franchise.
Microsoft and Activision, however, accused the regulator of hobbling Britain's technology sector by discouraging investment.
Mr Smith told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme the decision was "bad for Britain".
He added: "People are shocked, people are disappointed, and people's confidence in technology in the UK has been severely shaken."
Associate
Spoken like he knows it's a tough battle to overturn itInvoking brexit now...
The English Channel has "never seemed wider", with the EU a more attractive business destination than Britain, Microsoft has said after its £55bn gaming mega-merger was struck down.
Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and vice chairman, heavily criticised the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) after it blocked a gaming mega merger between Microsoft and Call of Duty-maker Activision Blizzard.
He told the BBC: "There's a clear message here - the European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom."
He added: "The English Channel has never seemed wider."
Mr Smith said while industry had hoped post Brexit the UK would slash red tape and become "more flexible" and open to investment, "the opposite appears to be true".
The deal has been fiercely opposed by Sony, the maker of the PlayStation console, which has claimed Xbox-designer Microsoft would use the deal to shut it out from the lucrative military action franchise.
Microsoft and Activision, however, accused the regulator of hobbling Britain's technology sector by discouraging investment.
Mr Smith told the BBC Radio 4's Today programme the decision was "bad for Britain".
He added: "People are shocked, people are disappointed, and people's confidence in technology in the UK has been severely shaken."
Soldato
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Which will probably be around the time that the 10 year deal Microsoft offered to Playstation and Nintendo would be up.
We all know what happens then, no more CoD or anything else.
MS need this deal now as they have no content - who knows if Xbox will even exist as a platform in 10 years of even if COD will still be relevant..
Permabanned
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Furious Microsoft boss says confidence in UK 'severely shaken'
The decision marks the firm's "darkest day" in the UK, as it says the EU is a better place to start a business.
www.bbc.co.uk
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Associate
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With the sales difference between the PS5 and Series S/X being substantial now, it does make me wonder what the future of Xbox will be if this acquisition fails.
Will they become even more aggressive with investment and in house development or will they look to go after EA/Take Two/Ubisoft. Or strike ridiculous exclusive deals just because they can.
All the results of the games they're working on now won't be see for another 2-6 years.
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Associate
Basically dead UK won't move the posts now reading thatFurious Microsoft boss says confidence in UK 'severely shaken'
The decision marks the firm's "darkest day" in the UK, as it says the EU is a better place to start a business.www.bbc.co.uk
I dont think this is something they can just buy their way out of but will be interesting to see what happens next.
I think the desperation set in with game pass - its undoubtedly a good deal for gamers but given no one pays full price for it and given it cannibalised xbox live revenue I dont see how they make money. Previously I would likely have purchased the forza's, halos etc for £60+ now all MS get from me is £1 - £5 per month if that. Also if a game pass title doesn't grab me straight away it gets deleted unlike something I have paid for..
Associate
I don't think it happens now I can't see how they pull this off... I didn't expect this shift I don't think ms did either tbh
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Associate
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Yeah but right now it's the Spotify model of make losses but acquire subscribers. Spotify is still making losses now even though its at something crazy like close to 200 million premium subscribers? Forgot the figures.
Looks like Microsoft are at 30 million subscribers potentially right now. I'll assume they want to get that to 70-100 million to be happy with the numbers of someone paying 8-10 a month.
Which was part of the reason to go after activision in the first place ( as well as the mobile app store competition they could have offered)
No idea what they have as plan b or c.
..but they are not selling the hardware to get access to new subscribers.. and they are not selling hardware as they don't have the exclusives.. and not having the exclusives detracts from the attractiveness of game pass.. and then you add in the fact that no-one pays full price for game pass..
People shouldnt be buying hardware for exclusives, thats anti consumer practice, it is sad this gen both competitors are going in harder on exclusives again.
I think perhaps the bigger problem is there is far less games being released now, exclusives or not.
The average curve, has games been produced on a downward curve, as less risks are taken, publishers not wanting to make games not part of a successful franchise.
The PS5 e.g. has been out for a few years now, the only two PS5 game's I have brought for it are FF7 remake and FF7 reuninion crisis core. I am pretty sure by this time in the PS4 lifespan I had purchased way more games.
BC has saved these consoles from utter embarrassment.
I think perhaps the bigger problem is there is far less games being released now, exclusives or not.
The average curve, has games been produced on a downward curve, as less risks are taken, publishers not wanting to make games not part of a successful franchise.
The PS5 e.g. has been out for a few years now, the only two PS5 game's I have brought for it are FF7 remake and FF7 reuninion crisis core. I am pretty sure by this time in the PS4 lifespan I had purchased way more games.
BC has saved these consoles from utter embarrassment.
Associate
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They have more subscribers on PC than on Xbox apparently... make of that what you will also.