Microsoft is now running full-page ads in the Financial Times and the Daily Mail to push for its Activision Blizzard deal to be approved by UK regulators.
This is a massive and co-ordinated campaign on all fronts by Microsoft to pressure the CMA to green light the massive buyout of Activision.
There are stories through the sympathetic Tech/Games media with Stephen Tottilo at Axios and Tom Warren at the Verge. There is the awareness campaign with the wider public with the newspapers. And there has been the EU event where all the press were treated to a luxury trip so Microsoft would have the opportunity to persuade them to see the benefits of the deal.
So much time and money put into persuading the decision makers seems, at the very least, inappropriate and should be examined into whether this is unethical and /or illegal.
So true, at the very least unethical. Imagine what they could’ve done with all the amounts & effort spent/allocated so far to create IPs, secure deals or push the industry forward.
I keep saying I don’t trust MS & I keep being proven right.
@richardmmorales BOTH Microsoft and Sony have both been privately communicating with the international regulators and supplying them information as part of the process for them to determine a decision on whether the deal should go ahead. The above comment about the PR campaign is about actions taken by Microsoft outside of that regulated process.
This reminds me of the mining propaganda on Aussie TV at the moment where they're pushing to get out of paying their fair share of tax.
It so strongly reminds me of how the media in my country acts during elections and that's some scary crap (some groups are pushing for a royal commission because they also consider it unethical/illegal). It's surreal to me that Microsoft has gotten to this point and are acting absolutely the same way, they're very desperate.
Beginning of this gen there was few games on xbox I was curious to try and considered buying a series x since I never owned a Xbox, been gaming mostly on PlayStation and Nintendo consoles, witnessing MS wanting to buy big publishers certainly put me off from supporting them in any way shape or form.
Sony's on the ropes with blocking this deal, from what I've been seeing. I'm not sure the desperation is coming from Microsoft.
Sony always sold themselves on their great 1st party IP. They're now in litigation claiming simply losing one 3rd party shooter would cripple their entire company. Having been offered a deal to even keep said shooter on Playstation, they'd purposely make it worse. To me, that sounds like desperation.
Your delusions is telling you Sony is blocking this deal when in fact, Sony has no power to block this deal in the first place. They are not cooperating to let it through and that's it. It's Microsoft vs the regulators. Sony is just the witness.
@Madlad Sony's been winning and will continue to win, lol. Microsoft is making all sorts of concessions they had not envisioned they'd have to and the deal is still likely to fail. They've also in the course of trying to plead to the regulators that matter, have admitted that xbox is a failing brand, gamepass is losing money and actually results in lower game sales (their words), and that they are so far behind playstation that they are basically irrelevant. What do other game studios/publishers think of this public groveling by Microsoft? All this is happening while they are currently getting stomped by the competition by every metric while there market share is contracting. If this deal is ultimately killed and I believe it is already dead, what's left for Microsoft but to slip further into irrelevance.
Idc about this whole ABK stuff but I do care about wrong information. Says who where? Aww that's right it's you, you always wrong about everything so it makes sense. 3 billion in revenue and with 1.9 billion after expense. It's probably mode now because of all tye games that are hitting the service. If gamepass was losing money Gamepass wouldn't be on fire the way it is now point blank.
Yep Xbox sales get cannibalized by gamepass. They're getting 70$ sales or gamepass subscription. They're getting money either way.
@Lighting, I'm not going to do your research for you if you want to know look it up, lol. I do not care either way, never owned an Xbox and likely never will. It is Microsoft who has been stressing to regulators just how much the xbox brand is failing.
That's so misleading, it hurts. Yeah, every Switch sold = 1 gamer who can play CoD and totally isn't already playing the game elsewhere and those same players will totally switch to Switch for their main platform for CoD. If this was true, why hasn't Activision done it already? Because they know those numbers are imaginary.
Thry aren't they already called MS out on this and literally said that they clearly couldn't get COD to run on switch not properly and infact activision had already tried several times.
@Extermin8or3_ Exactly this, I believe without a doubt, that if Activision could have had COD running on the Switch, they would have done it as soon as possible, they just had to make too many concessions to port the game.
Only thing I'm currently using is a Switch OLED. Sold all my Playstation stuff back in 2021. I have a laptop but only use it for eroge. Do plan on getting a Series X later this year though. I would enjoy having COD on the Switch though.
Wolfenstein: Young blood is rather blurry upon scrutiny. I love that game, and don't mind the blur 99.99% of the time, but that game is from 2019.
Can you imagine what a 2024 Call of Duty game would look like on switch? Considering it would naturally be using an even more demanding engine? I think it might be quite blurry.
@AuraAbjure, I really wonder if they're going to use some Cloud technology like they did with Kingdom Hearts, and I don't think that turned out very well for that game.
Sadly, your story doesn't mean there are 150 million potential CoD players on Switch. I'm not saying there aren't a number of gamers on switch who would play, but the number obviously is not enough to offset the large increase in development costs that continue throughout the year since it's a live game service. Otherwise Activision would have already ported the game.
This is Microsoft promising something solely to look good so they can long term control the most valuable third party IP in the world. They are using their parent company money to push out competition by IP control. Exact thing they've done in the technology sector, buying up smaller businesses solely to obtain and control patents.
You guys are so closed off from reality, that is what you do, gain support. It's court, and if the problem FTC and Sony are presenting is that if the deal goes through it will hurt consumers, then it's MS job to disprove that.
If you can prove the very people that they are claiming it will hurt say, "hey we are good, we don't mind" then your argument becomes even more invalid. Proving this by any avenue is necessary and smart.
You guys are worried? if they are lobbying, with the 120 mill+ PS fans out there you would think it would show that the deal shouldn't pass right? Better start typing quick lol.
By your dumb logic if MS is so worried about consumers then wtf are they doing cutting off 270 million customers from Bethesda games then?! Lol. If you trust MS/Xbox after that then sorry you're absolutely 💯 an idiot.
The whole blocking customers and hurting consumers with Bethesda handling absolutely counters your point completely. Stop thinking so superficially. None of this benefits consumers in the long run. But yeah go ahead and explain how Microsoft/Xbox had already locked out consumers completely with one publisher won't do it again?! How did consumers benefit from Bethesda purchase?!
You keep talking about Bethesda when this is about A/B, and the same situation does not apply...there is in 'Fact' a 10 year deal in place for Nintendo, Steam and Geforce Now and even Sony(if they accept)...you see how that is a 'Fact', and not using a crystal ball, and emotion to predict after 10 years from now., it's all speculation that you are spewing, what if in 10 years they renew the contract again? See it can happen, chances are it won't but it can, so you are clearly speculating...this is absolutely not the same situation as Bethesda's acquisition. Your argument is not holding weight because you keep using one thing to try to prove another thing that is clearly a different beast altogether.
I'm an idiot because your skewed speculation of 270mill is again speculation, and your guessing game is not based in reality, but in you own twisted version of it. How in blue hell do you know that Doom, Wolfenstein or any other Bethesda games won't be on a Nintendo platform? Tell me how? You think Stanfield was gonna be on Switch to begin with? Lol, Fallout never was, so it's a case by case basis. So no it's not a 'Fact' of 270mill lol.
I'll play you precedent game, MS has released multiple titles on the Switch,(Ori series and Minecraft) all with continued support, and Now doing something that was never done, releasing a CoD on the Switch, and Geforce Now, day and date with any new CoD games..Facts, not speculation my man. You keep harping about Bethesda, the CMA posed question, that does not equal a Fact lol, only a concern with this particular deal, SF is the only game being named, you me or the CMA do not know what the future holds, so it can't be a Fact. Then there is the 'Fact' that this deal is different than the Bethesda deal, its already set up that way, Nintendo and other are already on board, so again completely different already..so your argument can't be based on Bethesda because the A/B is already changed/different. Tell me what I said that is opinion, except for playing you stupid 'precedents' game.
Again, lets stay in reality and not what you think/feel/hope/want/pray for or dream of...
I see you are one of those people, we are talking about A/B, not Bethesda! Concessions are are being made in 'THIS' deal...10 year's later then you can start complaining, but for now put a lid on your emotional state.
No need to insult, it is what it is, My logic is absolutely sound, you are the one taking this personal and thinking emotionally and superficially...its business and it is in fact a court case, what do you do in court? Try to prove your case by any means necessary. Emotional feeling get you nowhere...so you can pretend this is some personal fan war that you live in instead of mega corps trying to win and get money/market share...its your delusions and the bubble you can play in.
The logic is sound, you don't have to like it, but there is no denying what it is, a literal court case. I wonder why we are dismissing Sony' frivolous claims...of they are gonna add bugs in our version of CoD lol, see anything to win...a court case...not your personal console preference flame war.
There is a 10 year deal being offered, take it or MS/Activision will fight harder, both companies want it, and because Sony doesn't it's not good? Nintendo don't care, Valve don't care, Nvidia don't care, Tecent don't care, it's only Sony making a fuss and fans of one system like you. Get over yourself and realize that this is the real world, and real money, business is what matters to these companies...
You can keep injecting your personal feeling and emotions as facts, but they are not based in any real logic, just speculation and fear of the future where you're favorite box is not raining supreme.
270mill people locked out? What in blue hell are you on about...no PS systems have 270mill users..so im not sure what you are talking about. All MS/Bethesda games will be on Xbox and PC. See that is another point of you being emotionally unstable about this...if a game you want to play ain't on your system...then buy the system it's on, in this case and Xbox, a Switch, or a smartphone or a PC, ...be a gamer and not some defender of a console...get over yourself, no one is locked out of anything, any of the devices are available and ready for purchase at anytime...locked out..you sound like a child.
Again you haven't brought ANY facts to the table. Everything you bring up in your useless paragraphs is again pure speculation on your part. Your examples of Xbox sharing games is absolutely trash. Hellblade 2, Oterworlds 2 going exclusive for example and all of Bethesda IPs being exclusive far outweigh the 2 or 3 games that Xbox have released on other platforms.
It's pretty easy to see that Bethesda games are no longer coming to other platforms. If you believe otherwise when MS/Xbox has in fact locked out 270 million potential customers is absolutely 💯 idiotic on your part. Sorry then again you're an idiot plain and simple.
You suggest to not involve opinions and feelings, but, then go on to again present what?! Opinions of your own. Outside of a handful of games it's easy to see the many Bethesda games only coming to Xbox/PC going forward which is insane when you consider many of the games sold better on Playstation.
The point is CMA have presented multiple questions that MS have been unable to answer to. Why can't they spin off the rest when MS claims they only want the mobile portion? It's 38% of Activision Blizzard revenue? No answer. Asked about Bethesda being made exclusive and asked why MS should be believed to keep Activision Blizzard games multiplatform? No answer again. Literally your logic is completely flawed.
Concessions don't change the fact that MS doesn't have to keep anything multiplatform. Only COD really has an offer on the table for 10 years. The point is if Xbox can keep Bethesda games like Skyrim going forward off Playstation/Nintendo and losing 15-20 million in sales then again why would that stop them from doing the same with COD?!
Microsoft is the only one of the big 3 that behaves just as toxic as it's fans, Sony and Nintendo mostly stay quiet and let the games do the talking. Looking back at their additude throughout the generations, even if they always come in 3rd place they truly believed they are the sh*t and are better and smarter than anyone else. They KNOW this will hurt playstation big time and are probably smiling and laughing right now.
I have all 3 consoles and PC. Just letting you know before I say. Have you seen all of the negative comments, on positive Xbox articles? I see way more Sony fans trashing Xbox, than the other way around.
Microsoft acquiring EA, wouldn't be a bad thing, as long as COD comes to all consoles. Also, all Xbox games come to PC, and Game Pass the same day. Nobody is saying anyone has to buy an Xbox to play Microsoft games.
Can you absolutely without a doubt say that Xbox/MS will keep releasing games on rival consoles if the sale goes through? Because their actions with Bethesda suggest they do NOT care.
They will only go for the term they suggest then will pull everything once that 10 year contract is up. You can bet on it. They only need enough gamers on Gamepass to pull the plug.
“ negative comments, on positive Xbox articles? I see way more Sony fans trashing Xbox”
Really because it’s usually people just laughing at the fanboys saying Game of the Generation without seeing much on the game…that’s not being a fanboy, that’s just pointing out how stupid it is.
LMAO! Just read the comments! Idiots! Literally every positive Xbox comment gets bombed! N4G should be renamed Playstation! Can't afford a PC? Go back to mom. Maybe she'll pay for it!
I just feel like gaming got more toxic when Xbox first became a thing, I don't even remember the Sega/Nintendo consoles wars being this bad (then again, the internet and social media wasn't much of a thing back then either).
@GotGame818, Having all the Consoles and a PC (apart from the Xbox, except the 360 which I do own), I cannot say that I've had the same experience.
Isn't it the OLED switch but there's no way they are getting rhe cos that releases on current gen to work on switch not without ruining the experience for other consoles.
"Why would Xbox release their single player IP on rival consoles....That makes no sense as it doesn't attract players"
The point is that it's anti-consumer to lock out previously Multiplatform games to the Xbox ecosystem. The idea that they wouldn't again is absolutely idiotic. They are offering timed concessions. So they made Bethesda games far LESS assessible. Yet here you're like oh they make COD (a single game more accessible?!)
Literally nothing stops them from pulling games after the 10 years are up for COD. Plus the only IP being given 10 years so far is COD. If they're okay will losing 15-20 million sales from Playstation and Nintendo for the next Elder Scrolls it's not a stretch to suggest they will do the same with COD eventually.
Microsoft is losing? I can't believe this. They really are afraid. Look at the amount things they are doing. The millions that Microsoft is spending to aprove this 70 billion deal is incredible. It seem the future of Microsoft gaming division is really on the line. They think this deal will save them
The propaganda payed attack. Amazing company.... Really amazing
I've seen this crap many times before in other sectors, if they have money to burn on propaganda, they will burn as much as they need to win and be deceitful/shady as necessary, until they it either goes through or they fail miserably.
That's kinda sad really.
strange
Scum's gotta scum.
So cringe