Microsoft-Activision Acquisition Gets First Regulatory Authority Approval in Saudi Arabia

Microsoft's legal department has been hard at work across the globe working on their acquisition of Activison Blizzard. The first domino in the acquisition has fallen...

[Sonyslave3]

Let go

[Jin_Sakai]

Not to long now.

[Yang_kai]

(Insert money hat joke here )🤣
Congrats to Microsoft one Down a few others to go 🫰🏾

[DarXyde]

I mean it's not hard to get things passed in Saudi Arabia (basic human rights withstanding).

Sorry, I'm being cheeky. I don't care about the acquisition so much as I have a deep loathing of the Saudi government.

[BrainSyphoned]

I'm sure the Saudi's whole heartedly endorse M$ working on AI to suppress online interactions. Glad to see the best supporting the best right away.

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Looking forward to not having to buy CoD anymore. Let’s get this deal done.

[EvertonFC]

Did you not get value for money with you`re other CoD purchases? or is it the same rinse and repeat formula is OK now its free ?

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

I’m not sure how that’s relevant. I’ve bought every CoD because I enjoy some of them and my son also enjoys them. Now I won’t need to spend $60-70 once the deal goes through because I buy GamePass yearly. So again I’m not sure what you’re trying to get at here with your question.

[SurgicalMenace]

Another FREEloader celebrating not actively contributing again. This is while those contributing are excited to pay to experience the best games available in the industry. Greatness comes at a cost not a bargain.🤷🏾‍♂️

[MadLad]

Call it what you will lol.
Gamepass is a great service for CONSUMERS.

I couldn't imagine shilling and protecting billion dollar multinational companies. Actually begging to give them more money when I didn't have to, and considering it this really amazing thing I'm doing.

Stunning. Brave.

[SurgicalMenace]

Yeah, like the ones most of the people in this community work for, right? How about you quit your job and get a job with a small business since you're so concerned about not supporting, protecting, or shilling for a billion dollar company. Be sure to get rid of your car, home, phone, medicine, etc too so that theres no danger of you becoming a hypocrite. The delusion is real.

Is it such a stretch that there are some of us who actually invest in other ventures outside of ourselves? There are some of us who live a different lifestyle that doesn't limit us to have to depend on "proconsumer" options to enjoy life. I'll continue to support Porsche, Jaguar, BMW, Movado, Rolex, Indian, and the like in spite of their apparent "anticonsumer" practices.

Just because something's not conveniently priced to your liking doesn't mean it's anticonsumer, it just means it's marketed to a different demographic of people. I guess every person living well is deemed evil to you, huh? In any case, just because full retail bothers some, it's a nominal cost to others.

[JCM42]

@SurgicalMenace sheepish much? you're exactly what's wrong with this fucked up society.... Ontop of that Gamepass and other streaming services are PAID for.

Consider that microsoft pays the studios upfront for license, if anyone takes a hit, it is Microsoft and not the developer.

When and if you ever grow a consciousness look up "loss leader", it is a very typical strategy to attract customers.

If millions of people are paying the monthly fee's, it attracts customers to other products and also DLC whom otherwise wouldn't spend that much because they'd have less reason to browse the store...

THINK before you type...

[SPEAKxTHExTRUTH]

Your reading comprehension is horrible. Have you ever sat in a classroom in your entire life?

[SurgicalMenace]

Not a sheep or otherwise, just a company owner/business consultant who knows what it takes to do well out here. As stated above, you guys conveniently pick and choose which companies to demonize while supporting several that cater to your luxury.

"Loss Leaders" has never been proven to maintain sustainable growth; very temporary solution. Sam Walton was the best at it and we all see where his family is today. You can try to convince yourself that you're against these companies all you want but when you look around you'll be quickly reminded just how foolish your claimed stance is. Most of you just don't like that gaming is beginning to price according to demand, which is a very smart business practice. MS doesn't have any demand so they HAVE to use strategies like loss leaders to remain relevant in this industry. Do some actual company research across the board before typing.

[SurgicalMenace]

Reading comprehension? Classrooms? I'm never here complaining about pricing or otherwise; perhaps change your curriculum and drop the class because complaining is a practice of dependants and losers. Winners meet the demands thrust upon them by their peers, colleagues, or the economy. A little something I learned along the way.🤷🏾‍♂️

[darthv72]

Just you watch. It will come down to Chuck Norris being the deciding thumbs up... like in the movie Dodgeball.

[darthv72]

either people dont get the reference or they hate Chuck Norris. I figure it's the former as nobody could hate Chuck Norris.

[Orchard]

The first of many to come.

Looking forward to having COD on GP and not having to shell out $70 for it every year. Also, give us more Crash Bandicoot!

[garryxcs]

Nah you'll just pay $10 per month, or $120 per year for it instead.

[Orchard]

That's only true if you only play 1 game on GamePass, which is obviously not the case.

I consume hundreds of dollars of content on GamePass every year - and that number is only going to get far bigger once all the Zenimax games start flowing out and Activision are on board.

[MadLad]

I forgot about the only 1 game a year mandate for Gamepass titles.
I'm still debating which singular experience I most want to play.

[garryxcs]

You can only "consume" so many games especially when they end up leaving gamepass at some point.

[Orchard]

It's not hard to find far more than $120/yr value in GamePass, even just the first party titles alone more than covers that price. And a lot of day 1 titles are $60 in store. And it's just going to get better and better once Zenimax and Activision games start flowing through the service.

Also, I typically complete 2-3 games per week, so I have no problem consuming games - additionally, most stay in gamepass for 6-12+ months.

[garryxcs]

What day one first party games covered it this year, how about last year what day one first party games covered it in 2021 or 2020 for that matter? genuinely curious. How many times are you going to try and convince people its "just going to get better and better", actually who is it that you are trying to convince becasue if you have to keep repeating it then it could be yourself? Lol, no one completes 2-3 games per week unless they are quick one and done games.

[Orchard]

2022 indeed was mostly third party games (like Sniper Elite) due to delays, but that's fine - it's not like only Microsoft has been hit by delays during COVID etc.

2021 had tons of day 1 titles, first and third party. For example, Forza Horizon, Psychonauts 2, Halo Infinite, Outriders, The Ascent, Hades, Back 4 Blood, MLB.

Heck, the top scoring exclusive of 2021 is a GamePass game. Microsoft were also the publisher of the year in 2021 - and all of those games are on GamePass day 1.

As for next year? We don't know what games we're getting yet but it at least includes Forza Motorsport, Starfield and Redfall. Plus whatever games Activision release next year.

And it's clear to anyone that GP will get better and better - the addition of Activision games will be huge. I fail to see how adding Activision and Zenimax games can make it worse 😂

"no one completes 2-3 games per week"
How can you possibly know what I do or do not do in my personal life? That literally makes no sense.

Nothing but fear mongering on your part here - "You can't complete the games in time because they leave after a year!". Right...

Sorry but if you're trying to convince me that GP isn't great value, you're not going to succeed. It's one of the most pro-consumer and best things to happen for gamers in years.

[MadLad]

People can keep burying their head in the stand and remain supposedly oblivious to the moves Microsoft haven been making the last few years.

If you're on here, you're well aware Microsoft studios put out a good number of quality titles. You're also well aware of the studios under them and what games they're working on that we'll see come next year. The year after that; and the year after that.

[SurgicalMenace]

I purchased all of those games listed at full retail, which of us benefited the industry more? GP benefits your pockets, while paying full retail pays salaries.

[Orchard]

@Surgical We just saw that MS paid $600,000 for Cooking Simulator lol. I think peoples salaries are being paid just fine.

[SurgicalMenace]

$600,000? You are aware that only equates to a little over 30k sales, right? That makes up a mere .0012% of the 25 million GP subscribers. If only 600,000 of the 25 million subs, 2.4%, purchased the game at 19.99 that'd have earned Big Cheese Studio $12 million dollars. Not sure if these numbers are impressive but imagine if only half of the GP subs actually purchased the game full retail. They'll make more money on the PS, Switch, and mobile platforms, as usual.

[onisama]

You consume hundreds? Im sure i consumed more than a thousand dollar o games last 12 months saved by gamepass

[JCM42]

Who freaking cares, COD is a crappy Joe Bloe non-gamer brainless casul' title, every other game they make is trash... perfect for generic joes on xbox, they can keep them.