Remember the big news back in January that Microsoft was acquiring Activision Blizzard? Well, the FTC aren't happy about it and are trying to block it.
In a statement the FTC said "The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to block technology giant Microsoft Corp. from acquiring leading video game developer Activision Blizzard, Inc. and its blockbuster gaming franchises such as Call of Duty, alleging that the $69 billion deal, Microsoft’s largest ever and the largest ever in the video gaming industry, would enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription content and cloud-gaming business.".
The whole deal has been alarming in some ways, because of the constant increasing amount of developers and publishers being swallowed up by bigger companies. This consolidation of power is never a good thing for consumers as a whole. It's not just a Microsoft problem, it's an industry problem. Take Embracer for example, they own or control around 850 franchises and 132 development studios.
What do you think about this news? Let us know in the comments.
Quoting: massatt212i dont like it, they should allow Microsoft to acquire Activision, Sony is steady buying up single studios and everyone is worshipping it, now Microsoft wants to compete its a problem, its so weird, i believe Blizzard will be in better hands with Microsoft compare to Activision.…and when Microsoft buys Sony?
Everyone saying microsoft if a Terrible company, just remember what Micheal Jackson said about sony, they both are bad.
Quoting: massatt212i dont like it, they should allow Microsoft to acquire Activision, Sony is steady buying up single studios and everyone is worshipping itI must have missed the existence of Sony churches. Really, I've never heard anyone say much good about Sony . . . does that actually happen?
Quoting: Purple Library GuyI must have missed the existence of Sony churches. Really, I've never heard anyone say much good about Sony . . . does that actually happen?
I used to play two MMORPGs owned by Sony. The closest thing I've seen to a church back then was a forum created by people banned from the official Sony forum, either because they said how much they loved Sony a little too loud or because they were aggressive jerks who couldn't follow the forum's code of conduct.
If anything, it was a satanic cult.
Back on topic : although the news seem promising, I don't think stopping Microsoft from buying Blizzard now will prevent someone else to buy it later, and the concentration of power in general. I hope I'm wrong and it's a first step in the right direction.
Quoting: junibegoodalthough the news seem promising, I don't think stopping Microsoft from buying Blizzard now will prevent someone else to buy it later,This deal is for $69 billion. The largest acquisition there's ever been in the games industry was Take Two buying Zynga for $12.7 billion. No other games company could afford to buy ABK. Only a tech platforms company like Microsoft, Google or Apple.
Quoting: Purple Library GuyQuoting: massatt212i dont like it, they should allow Microsoft to acquire Activision, Sony is steady buying up single studios and everyone is worshipping itI must have missed the existence of Sony churches. Really, I've never heard anyone say much good about Sony . . . does that actually happen?
Quoting: massatt212i dont like it, they should allow Microsoft to acquire Activision, Sony is steady buying up single studios and everyone is worshipping it, now Microsoft wants to compete its a problem, its so weird, i believe Blizzard will be in better hands with Microsoft compare to Activision.
Everyone saying microsoft if a Terrible company, just remember what Micheal Jackson said about sony, they both are bad.
This is not about which company is good or bad, this is about a merger having the potential to create a monopoly or a near monopoly in the market. So it also have zero to do with the amount of studios being bought (still MS have bought up more studios then Sony), instead it have to do with the huge size of Activision Blizzard, that is the single thing that activated FTC and why they are trying to block it. It's the size, nothing more.
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