Microsoft wins FTC fight to buy Activision Blizzard
https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23779039/microsoft-activision-blizzard-ftc-trial-win
From the article, quoting Judge Corley:
… the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore DENIED.
I still don’t understand all the people who are cheering this on. Why is consolidation of the industry a good thing. Is it really just because you want the games on gamepass?
Edit: in retrospect, I do agree I would be happy to see the leadership be ousted from acti-blizz. Since the merger is happening, I may as well see the good in it (if they are indeed getting ousted, that remains to be seen). I do think it is a worrying trend overall though
It’s less the focus on consolidation and more getting out the very problematic leadership from Activision (Bobby and his crew). Not that Microsoft is a bastion of progressive thought or leadership, but it’s suspected they would be much less likely to have covered up things like the Cosby room, suicide due to harassment, or the theft of breast milk. Activision’s leadership has some deep seated problems with sexism in general.
Yeah this is how I feel. I don’t think that stopping this merger is going to make triple a games a much less hyper-capitalistic hellscape but I feel like forcing a change of hands might mean better conditions for the abk devs, because from what I’ve heard from friends that have worked at Microsoft’s studios they’ve got a decent track record for employee care. Nothing remarkable, mind, but if it gets the devs away from toxic hypermasculine leadership and also gives them more security to make better games, I’m willing to nod the merger along. ABK’s games have long had a human cost that I’m not super keen to see them continue to pay yknow
is there any indication that microsoft intends to clean house?
A ton of the shit comes straight from the board of directors, who will no longer have a board because MS is absorbing and buying out all shareholders.
We know Bobby is leaving for a fact as well, as he has a buyout clause in his contract.
Short term, this is excision of a cancer from the industry. Long term this kind of consolidation is bad for competition. I’ll be happy when MS gets inevitably trust busted.
Like @Lockely@pawb.social mentions, they did intend to clean house by dropping the board with a buyout.
I, personally, am not too bothered by the consolidation of game studios. There are plenty of AAA game developers and indie devs are filling other niches (and sometimes become AAA themselves). It’s a different industry from something like making cars with high production costs and huge barriers to entry.
I think that’s a fair perspective. The leadership there is very problematic and I would be glad to see them gone. I just hope the industry doesn’t continue down this path
People like my friend Dave, I guess. He’s got Game Pass practically for life (bought through one of those insane 'convert all your Xbox Gold time to Game Pass for $1" deals) and he wants as many “free” games as he can get. Like Call of Duty, last time he bought a Call of Duty game was probably 10 years ago, but he’s still very excited about the prospect of Call of Duty on Game Pass.
I think it may be from PC gamers who want PC ports day 1, so would rather if a company is bought out it be one that has made pushes for simultaneous pc and console day 1 releases than having to buy another hardware. But for gamers who are fine with playing on all system it does definitely make sense why this buy out is bad news, since competition is much more preferable.
Yeah, I have mixed feelings.
I would ideally like Blizzard to split from Activision and have their leadership replaced, but realistically, I don’t see a path to that happening, and I don’t imagine it could recreate the original Blizzard anyway. Talent has moved on. Circumstances have changed.
Meanwhile, although Microsoft has been a problematic giant for almost the entire history of personal computing, their problems (as far as I know) do not include routine abuse/harassment or silencing support of human rights on behalf of the Chinese government.
Given the choice between no change and this change, I think I prefer this change. I might actually play a Blizzard game again if it goes through.
A company I actively hate is being merged into a company that I tolerate. The level of scum coming from Microsoft doesn’t even compare to Bobby “exploit on a yearly basis” Kotick.
In general, I want a greater variety of products from a greater variety of developers/producers. Activision deserves to fucking die, and Microsoft hasn’t managed to develop any ire from me in the last 4-5 years. So, the nuance wins, and I am happy Microsoft won this specific case.
We want a more competitive landscape. Sony trouncing the competition isn’t the way to a good and healthy industry. This “consolidation” only harms people that refuse to buy an xbox or a pc or use game streaming services…so basically only people that will only buy a Playstation.