The European Union has approved Microsoft's blockbuster $68.7 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard, and one of the key people involved in the decision, Margrethe Vestager, has now shed more light on the decision.
If that's a reason to approve she doesn't get it. This isn't a move to dominate console sales it's a move to monopolize the streaming era a decade from now.
Absolutely idiotic reasoning. The ratios in sales were earned by Playstation. 10 years is not enough to necessarily launch real competition though. Case in point Xbox has had over 20 years on the market? Have they become competitent or competitive in that time?! NOPE.
I'm pretty sure they became competitive with the 360, and then hit a big misstep with the One. So, it would be a YES; it's enough time with competent leadership.
They got lucky during the 360 years that Sony fumbled, giving them an opening. They have yet to prove they can go toe-to-toe with PlayStation when it's steamrollin' ahead (PS2/4/5).
Sony got Gaikai and Onlive and did what what with them?
Nothing.
How Sony bought, and squandered, the future of gaming PlayStation Now had the keys to the cloud gaming kingdom, but Sony barely stuck a toe in the door
I can say the same about MS squandering its own internal talent and not properly managing them for over the decade but I can’t blame MSFT for investing in their core strength.
Mobile streaming is an Uber-niche market even smaller than VR. And no ABK never had any major plans to release all its games on a streaming platform.
"How Sony bought, and squandered, the future of gaming PlayStation Now had the keys to the cloud gaming kingdom, but Sony barely stuck a toe in the door"
Even Google worth 6-7 times Sony couldn't get streaming to work. Whereas Sony working to their strengths broke back to back industry sales records, game sales record with 1.5 billion games sold, best all times quarterly console sales and are on track to break the industry record again for like a 3rd time. So yeah I think they'll survive.
Want to talk about squandered? Xbox 20+ years and still selling like trash.
Not trying thry used the tech to setup ps now and to improve remote play considerably. Unfortunately cloud infastructure pvroved too coatly for anyone but the largest tech companies
@343, cloud gaming may be a nascent market but cloud infrastructure is dominated by only a hand full of competitors including Microsoft. That's the concern that Microsoft uses it cloud infrastructure, monopoly in computer operating systems and a potential stranglehold on content to kill off any chance for a competitor to establish themselves in a future cloud gaming market. Remember good guy Phil bragged about Nintendo/ Sony being "out of position " when comes to the future of gaming because of this. Don't take issue with the CMA taking good guy Phil and big mouth Microsoft executives at their word.
Cloud gaming isn't quite ready for prime time... still too much input lag. It's a cool concept, but I wouldn't ever play a fighter, or FPS, or anything else that requires split second decision making.
"She went on to say that the EU had concerns that Microsoft might make Activision Blizzard games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service. However, Vestager said Microsoft's 10-year deals with other cloud streaming providers outside of Microsoft's helped the EU get on board and approve the deal."
I think I know what got the EU on board:
Reuters "The tech lobbying focuses on two key pieces of legislation. The Digital Markets' Act lists do's and don'ts for tech giants, and the Digital Services Act requires companies to do more to police content on their platforms.
The study warned about the industry's access to the European Commission, with lobbyists involved in three-quarters of the 270 meetings Commission officials had on the two draft laws.
It also cited the role played by trade and business associations, think tanks and even political parties in promoting the tech industry's narrative."
Exactly 💯. Shouldn't reward incompetence which is exactly what would happen if this sales goes through. The whole boohoo Playstation and Nintendo have far better exclusives entitles us to buy a huge publisher to even the odds is a sham.
It's like they are allowed to assume these great franchises weren't built up and just fell in their lap. No they actually had to work for that MS/Xbox so GTFO with this bullshit excuses.
yes lets reward microsofts incompetence in an industry by giving them a huge edge. It would be too much for them to simply earn it but instead we'll go with the too big to fail mentality. Oh and some campaign lobbyist money would be appreciated *wink wink* *nudge nudge*
So Europe defends pay to win. If this deal is approved they can't go back and then what?
You don't need to be good, you just need to buy the industry and then impose the rules that you want. The strategy of Microsoft is clear. Now is cheap, to lure you, then is the price they want, because you can't play them anywhere else.
Microsoft already have more than Sony now, how's it working for them? As most of these regulators have determined, It's not going to hugely tip the scale in Microsofts favor.
If that's a reason to approve she doesn't get it. This isn't a move to dominate console sales it's a move to monopolize the streaming era a decade from now.
Sleaze will be sleaze.
"She went on to say that the EU had concerns that Microsoft might make Activision Blizzard games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service. However, Vestager said Microsoft's 10-year deals with other cloud streaming providers outside of Microsoft's helped the EU get on board and approve the deal."
I think I know what got the EU on board:
Reuters
"The tech lobbying focuses on two key pieces of legislation. The Digital Markets' Act lists do's and don'ts for tech giants, and the Digital Services Act requires companies to do more to police content on their platforms.
The study warned about the industry's access to the European Commission, with lobbyists involved in three-quarters of the 270 meetings Commission officials had on the two draft laws.
It also cited the role played by trade and business associations, think tanks and even political parties in promoting the tech industry's narrative."
MS lobbied to neuter the The Digital Markets Act.
shes right that sony has a bigger foot in the gaming console world, HOWEVER, MS has had every chance to turn it around, and didnt.
this alone would not suffice to buy out one of the biggest publishers in the world, since MS already is a 2 TRILLION dollar company
MS fault for ditching consoles for PC day 1 and not making games good enough to get console sales