[Euripides]

Feds likely to challenge Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision takeover

 

https://www.politico...keover-00070787

 

So Sony wins?

 

Now watch Sony purchase Square Enix and make PlayStation exclusive.

[awp]

Feds likely to challenge Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision takeover

https://www.politico...keover-00070787

So Sony wins?

Now watch Sony purchase Square Enix and make PlayStation exclusive.

Pretty ridiculous considering how Sony’s gaming business would STILL be considerably bigger than Microsoft’s even after the Activision buyout. Sony has been a huge cry baby over the whole thing and, sadly, may get their way.

[shoethiefrexyk9]

Sonic frontiers is 41.99 digitally on the Microsoft store seriously tempting but I think I want to wait till it’s a bit lower


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[adonfraz]

Feds likely to challenge Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision takeover

 

https://www.politico...keover-00070787

 

So Sony wins?

 

Now watch Sony purchase Square Enix and make PlayStation exclusive.

 

This means the FTC is definitely going to ask for some concessions or a consent decree (CoD stays on PlayStation or cannot go into Game Pass). 

 

The suit is in case MS and the FTC cannot come to an agreement.

[Strider Turbulence EX]

Sonic frontiers is 41.99 digitally on the Microsoft store seriously tempting but I think I want to wait till it’s a bit lower


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Thanks. 

I got a 24% cashback offer from capitolonerewards + plus Bing credit so this is an easy buy. At the very least, I can play it with my nephews over the Thanksgiving weekend.

[Donken]

Re: FTC

Pretty crazy considering they allowed Ticketmaster to bend people over and most likely will allow Kroger and Albertsons to become the screwer of us all on groceries. Can’t let Call of Duty be on Gamepass though.

[Miker525]

Re: FTC

Pretty crazy considering they allowed Ticketmaster to bend people over and most likely will allow Kroger and Albertsons to become the screwer of us all on groceries. Can’t let Call of Duty be on Gamepass though.

I've been hating ticketmaster and their bullshit practices for longer than I can remember at this point but I am glad it's blowing up so severely for them right now that it's at least being looked into. They really need to be severely broken up. If they can get off without any changes but the MS Activision deal fails I'll be furious, it's so stupid. Sony is the biggest culprit when it comes to exclusivity it's really grinding my gears that they're getting so much say in this without any questions. Block Ms from buying Activision fine but then Sony can't buy up corps and make their games exclusive, that's fair

[bardockkun]

I'm no XBox fanboy, but goddamn the shit Sony is saying to stop the Activision acquisition is the fucking worst. Like how if Microsoft buys Activision then they'll be shut out of the mature rated FPS landscape and be no better than Nintendo or Microsoft will have a monopoly on consoles and will control all the console prices on the market. Meanwhile I just don't want to pay for Tony Hawk or goddamn $30 for Sekiro.

[Biggquis]

I'm no XBox fanboy, but goddamn the shit Sony is saying to stop the Activision acquisition is the fucking worst. Like how if Microsoft buys Activision then they'll be shut out of the mature rated FPS landscape and be no better than Nintendo or Microsoft will have a monopoly on consoles and will control all the console prices on the market. Meanwhile I just don't want to pay for Tony Hawk or goddamn $30 for Sekiro.

LMAO.  "Be no better than Nintendo".  Doesn't sound bad at all to me.

 

In other news, just picked up my order of GTA 5 for X/S from Walmart for $10.  I've never played it and have never seen it this cheap before.

 

Lastly... buy a Series S if you can't afford one.  Purchased it from Target which included discount and a gift card.  I already had an X, but the S is downstairs and now I feel like I can game anywhere, not just in my makeshift office.  I'll be taking it with me on the road as well.  It's tiny

[psunami]

Meanwhile I just don't want to pay for Tony Hawk or goddamn $30 for Sekiro.

That's the funny thing to me sitting on the sidelines of this discussion. 

 

This is a site dedicated to getting cheap games.  When companies buy out competition, competition evaporates, and they can fix prices.  

 

Absolutely no consumers win with purchases/mergers like these, except for shareholders.  

[Strider Turbulence EX]

You are forgetting the games ending up on gamepass, which is what most consumers are excited about the merger.

[bardockkun]

 

Crossplay coming to KOF15.

[psunami]

You are forgetting the games ending up on gamepass, which is what most consumers are excited about the merger.

No, I'm not.  That is price fixing in a different way.  You just have to pay a monthly amount to get access to games you want to play.  And if you don't think that the price of GamePass will go up when/if things like this happen, you're the exact market that they want.  

 

Lots of us here did the Gold +$1 conversion to get access to GamePass.  Microsoft did that to build a base of people using the service.  Once you have most of the games that people want to play on your service, discounts/deals evaporate and you have to pay elevated prices for the things that you're used to having.  

 

If people can find examples of situations where mergers made things cheaper for everyone, I'd be happy to hear about those.  

[FamedGuardian]

Sony didn’t even need a merger to push the market into a $70 price point…

[p0rn0saur]

I like the backhand Sony gave to Bungie on this latest "story". I fell hard off Destiny but I'd say it's still probably up there with the best FPS

[Strider Turbulence EX]

No, I'm not. That is price fixing in a different way. You just have to pay a monthly amount to get access to games you want to play. And if you don't think that the price of GamePass will go up when/if things like this happen, you're the exact market that they want.

Lots of us here did the Gold +$1 conversion to get access to GamePass. Microsoft did that to build a base of people using the service. Once you have most of the games that people want to play on your service, discounts/deals evaporate and you have to pay elevated prices for the things that you're used to having.

If people can find examples of situations where mergers made things cheaper for everyone, I'd be hear about those.

You’re moving the goal post. Activation’s catalog being added to gamepass is a massive value for the subscription service. I’m sure the service will eventually go up in price, like everything else in our economy. Having something like CoD day one will go ways to justify whatever the cost gamepass will be in the future.

[cancerman1120]

Sony didn’t even need a merger to push the market into a $70 price point…

Exactly. The video game industry does not need monopolies to fix prices. They have colluded for years to do it. 

[psunami]

You’re moving the goal post. Activation’s catalog being added to gamepass is a massive value for the subscription service. I’m sure the service will eventually go up in price, like everything else in our economy. Having something like CoD day one will go ways to justify whatever the cost gamepass will be in the future.

I get that people want it on the service, but this isn't something that benefits consumers in the long run. 

 

Choice benefits consumers, monopolies do not.  

 

Exactly. The video game industry does not need monopolies to fix prices. They have colluded for years to do it. 

And it only gets worse when there are less companies to buy from.  

[Donken]

I get that people want it on the service, but this isn't something that benefits consumers in the long run.

Choice benefits consumers, monopolies do not.

And it only gets worse when there are less companies to buy from.

Activision/Blizzard doesn’t run a storefront though except Battle Net on PC, and they have never had good prices. When was the last time any Call of Duty was less than $20 digitally? Even when it’s 5 years old they don’t drop below that $20 price point. With Activision I don’t think we are losing a leading consumer value driven company. Judging by the price of Bethesda games on sale (Doom Eternal for $10) I could see Call of Duty prices being better under Microsoft.

[blueweltall]

I rather they use that money to start help support game developments or projects just like they did back in the early 360 days. Games like Mass Effect, Lost Odyssey, Alan Wake, Fable, etc.

 

Sony and Nintendo has more exclusives because they are the ones that are funding, supporting, and taking the chance on projects while Microsoft are turning them down. We already had heard that Microsoft turned down chances to make Marvel games, the KOTOR remake, and there's probably more projects too. Use that Activision money to help developers get their game develop.

[bardockkun]

I rather they use that money to start help support game developments or projects just like they did back in the early 360 days. Games like Mass Effect, Lost Odyssey, Alan Wake, Fable, etc.

 

Sony and Nintendo has more exclusives because they are the ones that are funding, supporting, and taking the chance on projects while Microsoft are turning them down. We already had heard that Microsoft turned down chances to make Marvel games, the KOTOR remake, and there's probably more projects too. Use that Activision money to help developers get their game develop.

I Mean, they did that with Pentiment. Obsidian over and over again have said this is a game that wouldn't have happened if not for the acquisition and Game Pass so I'm sure there's more games like that coming. Also Game Pass kinda does that with the indie titles as well since I believe in interviews the games they take an interest in they tend to cover the development costs.

[GamerSavage]

Apologies for breaking up the merger talk. I have some older HDTVs I’m looking to sell. They’re sitting around unused and I’m clearing things out. What are some options in order to get it done? It’s the first time I’m attempting to sell such items.

[psunami]

Activision/Blizzard doesn’t run a storefront though except Battle Net on PC, and they have never had good prices. When was the last time any Call of Duty was less than $20 digitally? Even when it’s 5 years old they don’t drop below that $20 price point. With Activision I don’t think we are losing a leading consumer value driven company. Judging by the price of Bethesda games on sale (Doom Eternal for $10) I could see Call of Duty prices being better under Microsoft.

No one is saying that Activision/Blizzard is a company that is loved by all.  What I'm talking about is the fact that it all comes down to whether you believe purchases like this are pro-consumer or not.  

 

The history of capitalism points to the fact that when there are less companies to buy from consumers are (either immediately or eventually) harmed.

 

I'm not arguing that Gamepass wouldn't be improved, I'm just saying that consumers are harmed when massive companies become even more massive companies where consumers have less choice where to buy from.  

[psunami]

Apologies for breaking up the merger talk. I have some older HDTVs I’m looking to sell. They’re sitting around unused and I’m clearing things out. What are some options in order to get it done? It’s the first time I’m attempting to sell such items.

I think Craigslist is a decent option in the local market.  Make sure you have "safe seller" locations like police stations to do sales though.  

 

I know a lot of people that use Facebook marketplace as well, I can't speak to that as an option though.  

[adam31]

Apologies for breaking up the merger talk. I have some older HDTVs I’m looking to sell. They’re sitting around unused and I’m clearing things out. What are some options in order to get it done? It’s the first time I’m attempting to sell such items.

I've had some success with Offer Up... Again, meet in a public place or near police.

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[The Ebbtide]

Apologies for breaking up the merger talk. I have some older HDTVs I’m looking to sell. They’re sitting around unused and I’m clearing things out. What are some options in order to get it done? It’s the first time I’m attempting to sell such items.

Craigslist hasn't been useful for my area (I live in a major city). It's too littered with bots. My brother says Facebook Marketplace is the best one to use now.

My mom used an App called Offer Up when she was helping a friend move and they were able to clear out furniture and tools in about 2 days. But people who came definitely wanted to debate the price, so you might want to ask higher to be able to lower your price to what you both want.

[blueweltall]

I Mean, they did that with Pentiment. Obsidian over and over again have said this is a game that wouldn't have happened if not for the acquisition and Game Pass so I'm sure there's more games like that coming. Also Game Pass kinda does that with the indie titles as well since I believe in interviews the games they take an interest in they tend to cover the development costs.

Pentiment does not require the same level of risk, funding, or support as those bigger games. 

[GamerSavage]

I think Craigslist is a decent option in the local market.  Make sure you have "safe seller" locations like police stations to do sales though.  
 
I know a lot of people that use Facebook marketplace as well, I can't speak to that as an option though.

  

I've had some success with Offering. Again, meet in a public place or near police.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

  

Craigslist hasn't been useful for my area (I live in a major city). It's too littered with bots. My brother says Facebook Marketplace is the best one to use now.
My mom used an App called Offer Up when she was helping a friend move and they were able to clear out furniture and tools in about 2 days. But people who came definitely wanted to debate the price, so you might want to ask higher to be able to lower your price to what you both want.

Thanks to all for the advice. I will look into all three options for listing and make sure I meet potential buyers outside the Police station or a safe public space. I’ll have someone go with me as well.

[adonfraz]

No one is saying that Activision/Blizzard is a company that is loved by all.  What I'm talking about is the fact that it all comes down to whether you believe purchases like this are pro-consumer or not.  

 

The history of capitalism points to the fact that when there are less companies to buy from consumers are (either immediately or eventually) harmed.

 

I'm not arguing that Gamepass wouldn't be improved, I'm just saying that consumers are harmed when massive companies become even more massive companies where consumers have less choice where to buy from.  

 

Your overall points on consumer choice and competition are valid but how does the ABK deal apply?

 

If you go out and buy an ABK game today, you are buying it through PlayStation, Xbox, BattleNet marketplace on PC (Sometimes Steam), or a retailer.

 

When/If the deal closes ABK games would be available on more platforms (For instance Nintendo and ABK games would then always come to Steam for sure), not less.

 

Consumers would literally have more choices.

 

If MS was purchasing a large platform holder, then I'd agree.

 

ABK's BattleNet certainly isn't one.

[bobbyblane]

I think you can make the argument that capitalism has been good for consumers.  The profit motive is what has had companies like AMD, NVIDIA, IBM, Apple, Microsoft, etc. take computing from technology only a very few could afford to something the average person uses on a daily basis, and that has happened in a single generation.  You see this kind of innovation in things like DVDs to Blu Ray to 4k or HD tvs to 4k/8k TVs.  Costs have come down while quality has gone up.  If you adjust for inflation on video game prices, $70 is relatively cheap (keep in mind we were paying this for new games in the N64 era several decades ago).  I remember buying Ocarina of Time for N64 at $70 (quick math tells me that is the equivalent of paying $128 in today's dollars when you adjust for inflation).  

 

In this instance, if Microsoft fails to deliver a product that people want, people will stop buying Game Pass.  If they make a product people want, people will buy more Xboxes, you will see more subscribers to Game Pass, and you will see more of us agreeing to pay more for the service.  Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are all competing for our dollars and we get to decide where we want them to go or not go.  If I want to play Mario I need a Nintendo, if I want to play God of War I need a Playstation, and if I want Halo I need an Xbox.