The launch is still slated for 2021 on PC VR headsets.
The FTC has resumed its administrative case against the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft after having temporarily paused it in July.
The FTC will continue its case 21 days after the 9th Circuit ruling on the FTC's appeal, which will likely pass.
There is no preliminary injunction stopping the merger from happening, meaning Microsoft can go ahead with the acquisition, however the FTC can still break them up if they win the case.
It's a big if, especially since that would have to go through three degrees of judgment before it becomes effective. The chance of such a decision surviving the Supreme Court is basically zero.
What they're doing now is basically wasting taxpayer money in the hope that the loss will push congress to give them more powers so that they're less likely to lose in future cases.
I think it's pretty clear the FTC isn't seeking to waste taxpayer money, considering they've also recently started a similar antitrust court case against Amazon. Too much corporate consolidation is harmful to the industry as you can see with what's going on with Embracer Group shutting down studios they bought, and while it's fair to also not approve of Sony acquisitions (and I would agree), it's impossible to find a parallel on the same scale as what Microsoft is attempting.
They have lost. They know it. We know it. Everyone knows it.
Two courts have already found their arguments lacking and that was before Microsoft pulled the rug completely from the cloud part of the case by selling the rights to Ubisoft.
Whatever the administrative judge decides will
1: be too late. The acquisition is closing as soon as the CMA gives its final approval next week.
2: Useless, as seeking a divestiture would have to go through courts that have already decided against the FTC and have absolutely no reason to change their mind.
So yes. They're literally wasting money and resources, and forcing the companies involved to do the same.
***They have lost. They know it. We know it. Everyone knows it. ***
No, not really. They can still require concessions similar to the CMA to make it happen.
@christopher. No they can't. The acquisition will have long closed by when they get around to it.
Yall start throwing around the 'shilling' word when arguments start to go over your head or you just simply don't know what you're talking about.
Abriael, no they can still. Demand concession even after it's closed. Do some. Research bud. It's can be along the lines of,... We have no choice to but to break apart the company, unless you sell blah blah to blah etc.
This is. Common practise. Stop trying to sound like. You know. Everything, you know nothing. Do I think it's a waste of money, No, it's never wasted if your trying to stop corporations become all powerful and influencing the market. NO CHOICE, is bad for everyone. If Sony and Nintendo stopped gaming tomorrow, gamepass would be 60 quid a month before December.
So they're going to hold a case AFTER Activision has joined Microsoft? This is a gross waste of taxpayer money.
Just so you know, they do have the task of breaking up companies as well. I mean, you can have your opinion on this being a waste of taxpayer money, but the logic that it is because it's after the merger isn't good logic on why this shouldn't continue. If that were true, then there would never be any case for breaking up companies to begin with.
Dude, it's over. Sometimes you just have to take a L and move on. This deal is gonna happen.
These guys just can't take the L and will continue to beat this dead horse into the ground, even after that embarrassing trial with Lena Khan
They probably know they are on the right, especially seeing everything that leaked, but its wasting time and money since MS probably bought many to get this approved and nothing will change but mentioned here they were going to be back and even try to break them if giving a chance and was told I was stupid, well here it is. And you know what calling it now, they will fail and come back and sue Microsoft for other things not related to gaming, just like they did with Epic, and now Amazon.
Lol. Wow. Just when I thought I was out, they pull me right back in. What is this madness 😫😫😫 28555;😫😫
An Activision Blizzard statement to Kotaku reporter Ethan Gach read, “Organizational changes were made to the Hearthstone team; as a result a small number of roles have become redundant. We want to thank these employees for their many contributions.”
Jim Ryan to retire next spring and Hiroki Totoki to assume Interim CEO role while keeping his current role at Sony Group.
Y'all got what y'all wanted lets see if anything change hopefully for the better. A Japanese head would be better then Jim I bet.
"Y'all got what y'all wanted"
Yup...and I'm pretty sure most of us are content
His plans for the future of Sony were awful so...no great loss
Good riddance
@Eonjay
I think a lot of people didn't like the direction that PlayStation was going under Jim with his heavy emphasis of GaaS games being developed by the first-party studios. That's just my impression.
@Eonjay
Just his comments and business like approach to the industry along with some stupid sounding remarks.
He wanted a GaaS future for PlayStation and set those plans in motion (god knows if they will stop now)
We don't get much communication aswell, apart from Wolverine what else is coming to PlayStation after Spiderman 2 that isn't third party and GaaS related? Nobody wants to have games announced 3-4 years before they are actually released but give us something.
Microsoft bought Zenimax and Activision, it's clear they probably won't stop so where's the reaction from Sony? They should be doubling down hard or building up a new studio to counter the games they are missing out on but they aren't instead it's "lets throw GaaS shit at the wall like a dozen times and see what sticks"
He just hasn't really got anything on Jack Tretton and Shawn Layden
Yeah you go Fox, show them how the 27 billion USD business is led. You know what is a loss for every single Playstation user and have all the insights to roadmaps and investments, I'm sure you sat in those meetings the respected and well-known leader you are, and would have made all the right calls. I'd like to thank you for speaking for all of us.
Meanwhile, in the world of reality, PS5 was launched amid global pandemic and is SIE's fastest selling console yet and the Sony Corp stock nearly doubled.
First and foremost, Jim Ryan is responsible for 12700 people, and their families, and of course shareholders, and finally the consumers who buy their products. In that order.
He and his management team has all the data in the world from the Playstation product family, including countless of consumer insight projects from multiple regions and age groups, and knows exactly where and how gamers want to play today. This is reflected on the revenue increase, unit sales in both hardware and software, and is a clear showing of his outstanding performance at a very difficult job in extraordinary circumstances.
Why VR? Seems kinda pointless.