@343 doesn't the deal require a complete approval across the board if one fails it all falls

Not stubborn. Just aren't in the pocket of a trillion company that wants monopoly but can't even manage 23 studios....

They don't need approval across the board. They can just exclude the UK or create a company that operates independently that handles Activision and another for Microsoft in the UK. Activision UK and Microsoft UK.

Then the deal is done. Problem solved.

@Moonwalker00

That is actually a lie. Not only was the CMA giving more power, they will followed by making sure Microsoft/Activision cannot merge in the UK for the next 10 years, followed by not allowing both companies to buy shares in each other, I believe without CMA approval. Is this what you and your ilk call scrutiny?

@Profchaos

No. That portion of the contract simply allows more so Microsoft leeway in the process. ABK doesn't really have a valued interest in disallowment of deal based on that contract point.

@Redemption-64

Not correct. They simply added terms applying during appeal process. As is MS/ABK could go through with deal and the most CMA could do is lay fines. Of which UK can judicially overturn said fines. Currently appeal process at most hands it back to CMA to reaccess if anything.

344_Guilty_Spark,

Explain. Please. How on earth are UK Gamers going to "suffer"?

What changes for them? You're just saying nonsense because you want the deal to go through and there's zero substance behind that statement. Make your case instead of saying stupid, cryptic things.

You know who does suffer? Gamers, because the corporation with the worst studio management capabilities would be in control of one of the biggest publishers. Society and the justice system, because the execs would be exonerated of all wrongdoing going on prior to the bid.

The only ones who "win" in this scenario are Game Pass humpers who don't buy games and a bunch of rich assholes.

Darkrider - if they can't even manage 23 studios, then where's the harm if the deal were to go through?

MontyeKristo,

I assume you mean me (my username is not darkrider).

What is the harm? Personally, I don't care if ABK as a corporation gets run into the ground. I'm not even saying their current leadership is good. You would struggle to find someone who despises ABK more than me. I haven't given them a penny in nearly 2 decades. That all said the harm I foresee is continued industry consolidation and further perpetuation of a subscription model, both things I am strongly against. Take that with poor management and I think that puts us in a situation where half-assing games is tolerated because "at least it's on Game Pass". Games are already broken, I feel pretty sure this will make it much worse because it will normalize people being okay with it.

More of an issue for me personally is how this acquisition offers a golden parachute to truly reprehensible people, as well as what is certain to result in massive labor force reduction. I find Microsoft's laser focus on prominent IP acquisition over talent to be gross. I'm sure they don't care about the talent behind Call of Duty; they just want Call of Duty.

Those are issues I would anticipate. I don't think any of that is healthy for the industry we all enjoy so much. I'm against it as a matter of principle on many levels, but not because "it would hurt PlayStation". I don't really care about that and Sony will be fine if they don't have Call of Duty. It's all the other stuff, especially the execs slithering away without facing justice—I should add, of Microsoft guaranteed Kottick and the rest of the ABK rogue's gallery faced justice, I would support this deal, all of the other stuff be damned. There needs to be a message sent that no one is above judgment and it's maddening to think that people are okay with that being allowed to happen if they can play their video games at a lower cost up front.

You can disagree with my reasoning, and that's fine. But you asked for my thoughts, and here they are. Cheers.

Right? I'm not understanding why so many people want this sale to go through. Regardless of whether it's owned by MS or not doesn't change the fact the people would still get the games. Outside of Gamepass possibly saving the odd person a little. But considering most people would play the game for a long time it may be cheaper to just buy the odd game outright

@Hofstaderman,
N4G should really start dropping the ban hammer or marking these accounts so the owner is obvious somehow (I'm sure he's not the only person here with multiple accounts).

Maybe

@Mcardle
That is strange considering PS5 has more of those as well.