They've already offered 100% parity. And Microsoft can't afford to make COD exclusive.
"but also if it goes to gamepass, that means they will have to make it available to PS plus subscribers as well"
No it doesn't. The CMA can't force them to put it on PS+ for free. They could force them to offer the option to Sony, but Sony would obviously have to pay for it, and that isn't going to happen, too expensive.
My statement was pro Sony and pro Microsoft 🤷 Maybe take the tinfoil hat off for a bit.
If you want sources, job salaries are public in Washington State:
Minecraft, Principal Engineer (non-lead - couldn't find any lead positions):
https://careers.microsoft.c...
"The typical base pay range for this role acro...
@Outside That could mean them buying companies like T2, EA, Ubisoft, Capcom etc. That's worse for gamers than COD imo - because COD they basically have to keep on other platforms due to the $$$, that wouldn't be true for 'smaller' IPs (e.g. look at Zenimax)
@Eonjay "Inking a deal is not an option"
The article and CMA website literally say the opposite.
"However, it will consider behavioural remedies (such as the proposed licensing agreement with the likes of Sony)."
We all knew this was coming. But now they can seriously start discussing remedies such as licensing deals. Previously, licensing deals were rejected by Sony - but that ball is now in the CMA's court who can essentially force Sony to accept a licensing deal.
You missed the most likely one:
"However, it will consider behavioural remedies (such as the proposed licensing agreement with the likes of Sony)."
Acquisitions are the name of the game if you’re Microsoft or Sony. Nintendo less so.
@blackblades “As for what you said Sony put the $70 on smaller IP, Spiderman mm and kena amongst others weren't $70.”
So Horizon, Gran Turismo, Ratchet and Clank, God of War aren’t big IPs?
SMMM was pre the move to $70, we already know Spider-Man 2 is $70.
Kena (which actually IS a small IP) isn’t developed or published by Sony so that’s irrelevant.
@Elda We pay for good games, not resolutions.
...
Sony and MS have done it on far smaller IPs, heck Sony even charge $70 for remasters - it was obviously going to happen to Zelda and it’ll happen to Mario too.
Not saying I support it or think it’s good, but this particular can of worms was opened a long time ago.
They would likely sign a concession agreement saying it’ll remain on all platforms. The revenue of COD is insane - totally worth it.
Hopefully not. The potential alternative is way worse. Microsoft shopping around for smaller publishers and studios with $66bn to spend.
The way he went about it was too abrupt / asshole-y - but he is right. Why would any tech companies move there or anyone invest in tech there when they appear as anti-big business.
Anyway, we know how this is going to play out. Concessions and some “you scratch my back I scratch yours”. Western governments are all the same.
Lol, no, None of these countries are communist dictatorships.
Wouldn’t say this deal will go down in flames - what will happen is concessions between the regulators and Microsoft, probably resulting in COD remaining on PS platforms via written contract.
Also literally zero chance of Activision or Xbox going bankrupt as a result of this. Both too big. Neither company is struggling financially, nor is that why Activision is seeking a buyout.
Also the price for the Switch 2 re-release plus whatever console they make after that :p
Why? They were obviously going to goto $70 when everyone else had. Once you open that can of worms there’s no going back.
@blackblades Ok, 99% of the existing 1st party PS5 games plus all the ones going forward.
@Goosejuice I haven’t tried the streaming yet, didn’t really want to put in any effort to “modifying” the stock setup. How is it?
Because this doesn’t scream “unoptimized game”…
Sure but anyone who works in the games industry knows Nintendo pays the lowest of the big three, with MS paying the most.
So it’s payrises that likely result in them still earning less than their counterparts at Sony and MS.
Why not both? Steam Deck gets you all the PC, PS and Xbox games. Switch gets you all the Nintendo exclusives.
The CMA pretty much spells out what is going to happen in their press release:
"Access remedies are a form of behavioural remedy which seek to maintain or
restore competition by enabling competitors to have access on appropriate
terms to the products and facilities of a merger entity that they require to
remain competitive.
Access remedies normally require an access commitment
which is set out in significant de...