re: pg 7: Microsoft has finalized its purchase of Activision; trailer: first post on page 8

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"We look forward to a future where players have more choice to play their favorite games on GamePass."

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This might be more correct

MS/ABK attorneys argued they agree with the stay of the CAT appeal because they think the current talks are constructive and productive and it isn't constructive to be working with the CMA while also fighting an appeal against the CMA.

Basically, they think an agreement with the CMA is imminent.

Apparently the FTC failed to seal confidential Nintendo information in its findings. What a clown show.



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So now we officially know that the switch CAN support voice chat with it's games but they keep that crap off?

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Can someone explain this issue to me like I am 5….maybe in a paragraph or less?

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Not sure exactly what you're looking for, but as we currently stand MS/ABK are negotiating with the UK CMA. By early August, the deal will either be approved by the CMA or will "close over" the UK. I doubt they will extend the closing date again, but I guess anything's possible if MS/ABK think they're nearing a deal with the CMA. Would be better for future deals if they can come to an agreement with the CMA.

ETA: The FTC has stayed their proceedings in the USA, but it is possible they will continue to pursue after the deal has closed. It's also possible they will end up dropping their concerns completely. They were utterly embarrassed by the Court in the PI hearing.

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Microsoft is restructuring its proposed Activision Blizzard deal to transfer cloud gaming rights for current and new Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft. The transfer of rights is designed to appease regulators in the UK that are concerned about the impact Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion deal will have on cloud gaming competition. The restructured deal has triggered a new regulatory investigation in the UK that could last until October 18th.

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The CMA is coming off as an international joke at this point. If they take till 10/18 to approve this deal the UK will see

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“To address the concerns about the impact of the proposed acquisition on cloud game streaming raised by the UK Competition and Markets Authority, we are restructuring the transaction to acquire a narrower set of rights,” says Microsoft president Brad Smith. “This includes executing an agreement effective at the closing of our merger that transfers the cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft Entertainment SA, a leading global game publisher. The rights will be in perpetuity.”

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This makes it pretty clear that Cloud streaming of games was never a reason for this purchase from Microsoft's perspective.

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Does this mean that the servers that you log in to for WoW and play will be hosted by Ubisoft services? Or when my 13year old plays CoD he will need to make a unbi account now ?

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Nah, this is strictly for streaming, which is when you don't download the game and instead play it while it is hosted in the Cloud. If you download the game and play directly from your machine, it will still all be through Microsoft/Activision/Blizzard.

Not sure how this will work with xCloud streaming. It may be that Microsoft won't offer streaming for Activision games on Game Pass. Not a huge loss really.

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That's a relief. Seems like this is more of a good will gesture to help get the main deal done

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100% that's what this is. Microsoft is clearly showing the CMA that they don't care about the Cloud market. Probably because that market doesn't really exist. Since Cloud was the only concerns brought up in the CMA's original decision, this should be a real easy open and shut case.

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UK regulators likely to decide on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal next week. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is expected to issue a preliminary decision on Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal next week, a source familiar with the situation tells The Verge. It follows Microsoft restructuring its deal — after the CMA blocked it over cloud gaming concerns — to transfer cloud gaming rights for current and new Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft.
This preliminary decision will then be followed by a final one, due by October 18th. The UK is the final regulatory hurdle for Microsoft’s giant deal.

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