How An Activision Divestiture Could Play Out

The Activision Blizzard Microsoft deal could be facing it's first real challenges and Idas over on ResetEra has laid out a few different ways this could all play out. As we wait for more details, the biggest Xbox news today is still all about this case. Let's discuss how it could all play out.
Source: www.resetera.c...
Previously: The Statement of Objections have dropped in Xbox's lap from the European Union. These are against the Microsoft Activision Deal that has had many concerns about things like a Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox future. While the Microsoft Activision Blizzard purchase has been in turmoil, there are several cases ongoing. One with the FTC, one with the EU, one with the CMA, and one referred to as the Gamer Lawsuit. All of these had intermingling facts today with big Xbox news today about the statement of objections that may have been alluded to in another case. However, while Xbox subpoena PlayStation for records, we learned a little bit more about the possible close date of the deal. A lot to go over today in terms of PlayStation news today and Xbox 2023 news that will impact their dealings across the board.
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www.resetera.c...
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www.resetera.c...
www.cnbc.com/v...
www.resetera.c...
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[@DestinL]

Could divesting Call of Duty still work for Microsoft? Let me know how you're feeling in the comments below. Also, please consider subscribing! kzbin.info Become a Member here kzbin.info/door/gUOWrjLEhmHE9tqYtoeS_gjoin/join`11`

[@ari.nogueira]

Hey Destin, I know how hard it is for you with multiple jobs (IGN, bakery, YT Channel) and two small kids to get it all handled and I appreciate your time and effort to get it done almost daily. Sorry if I haven't commented in the previous recent videos, but I'm watching (and liking) all! You're heading to the 99K already, for the 100K won't be long. Take care buddy!

[@ryhanon7]

I think divesting CoD would be... well, if it's not a deal breaker I imagine MS wouldn't want to pay the $69m they're on the hook for.

[@gabor-toth]

This will not end well for Microsoft. They either cancel the deal or spend $70 billion and still don't get the Call of Duty revenue, which would be the point of the whole deal. They're essentially screwed up now and will back out of the deal completely.

[@FANTUSARCHER]

@Destin If hypothetically the terms of the remedies MS previously submitted for CoD would be acceptable for the CMA, would or could there be problems adopting it given Sony's refusal to accept anything?

[@ryhanon7]

@@FANTUSARCHER if the CMA agrees to something like an access deal for Sony or similar - then there's not much Sony can do. If they refuse to accept it, that's on them - not MS. Sony can't stop the acquisition by simply not accepting the remedies signed off on by the regulatory bodies. If that were to happen they'd just be shooting themselves in the foot.

[@justindryjanski1026]

do you think Microsoft, Activision and other people who thought the deal will go through are kind of flabbergasted at how ignorant/ not willing to learn the industry to see what is fair? It just seems these governing bodies only take Sony's side and it makes no sense

[@SergeyWaytov]

Exactly my thoughts about whole debacle

[@ocdgamer6030]

I don't see how the deal couldn't possibly go through unless it's corruption over there. Sony has like 80 percent market share there so I don't see any other possibilities but corruption. I'm sure Activision will be upset with Sony so even if it doesn't go through, I don't see them holding any further marketing rights with cod

[@justindryjanski1026]

@OCDgamer Yeah if the deal goes not go through Activision will definitely not be happy with Sony and will cater back to Microsoft for deals.

[@SergeyWaytov]

@@ocdgamer6030 one of regulation bodies actually called out that anyone being so rigidly against the merger should think and ask themselves -- are they protecting customers, or the position of marketing leader in industry (eg Sony)

[@De1usionsofGrandeur]

The whole point of competition is that it's supposed to hurt the other guys market share.. then that company either takes the loss or makes their own stuff better to try and win back what they lost....that's competition...

[@KingScotto.]

Xbox is doing even worse than last gen and that's saying something 🙅🏻‍♂️

[@felipesantos-er4kk]

Source: Trust me

[@darkstar9625]

wish hoeg was here to explain this stuff to us

[@Ponyslasher739]

What I can't understand why are they so bothered about cloud gaming especially when Sony tried it and failed and now Microsoft are having some sort of success with it and now it's getting really getting stupid

[@thatoneguyfaded]

I have a feeling that CoD and Activision won't be the same if this deal fails on all fronts. The relationship between Activision and Sony is damaged, and due to Activision's stock issues I assume there will be mass lay offs. The diversity of Activision games will shrink, and I feel like CoD's quality will start to dip. These regulators are so focused on stopping Microsoft that they are ignoring the potential damage they are causing ABK itself. Just my opinion, but I'm no professional.

[@Shaker1000]

They are also saving Sony the largest market leader in video gaming also

[@daRealB-Rex]

I think ABK will be fine if this deal doesn’t go through. They’re looking to sell regardless, and there were many other interested buyers so they’ll simply start discussing terms with them if this falls through. It’s not all doom and gloom.

[@jamesw884]

@@daRealB-Rex and who has the money available to buy them ? Their not going to sell for a penny less then what microsoft offered

[@vullord666]

@@jamesw884 Most likely Amazon or Google or potentially even apple. All have been suggested as wanting to get into console and PC gaming. Or course minus Amazon those are even bigger anti trust issue’s already (Apple and Google having a duopoly and being under fire for mobile). There’s the argument that if Microsoft can’t buy cod then neither of them can buy candy crush or the cod IP for mobile. Amazon is also a big tech company but not majorly in any market (though there could be something with them owning twitch; also if Microsoft isn’t allowed to leverage ABK IP for cloud gaming neither could Amazon). … actually if the deal is blocked using the current arguments literally no one could buy ABK. They would have to divest or downsize. God this is a mess. I wonder if regulators realize how much they’re screwing literally everyone over.

[@vullord666]

I kinda want the deal to fail to see Sony’s surprise pikachu face if ABK willingly pull COD from Sony and refuse to publish games on PS systems following it

[@LoneWolfGamer06]

I'm happy with my Series X but I'm starting to wonder what Microsoft has in store for us. It's just been such a slow start to this gen & we've got all this crap with the ABK deal. It'll be very interesting to see what happens when all this is done

[@PhantomPain74]

XBOX FORMULA: Wait & Hope

[@LoneWolfGamer06]

@@PhantomPain74 unfortunately you're 100% correct

[@Dfdm7]

What they have in store? Are you trolling? Starfield? Redfall? Forza? Minecraft Legends? And a host of other games that will also be included in game pass?

[@daRealB-Rex]

@@Dfdm7 Yay the umpteenth Forza game that seems to be focusing on graphics over gameplay. Minecraft Legends looks cool but it’s multiplatform. Redfall and Starfield both look awful.

[@twostop6895]

Redfall in May, Starfield likely to launch in 2023

[@Andino_PR]

I need all the COD on game pass 🤦🏻‍♂️🤣

[@praisethesun6078]

That would be nice. No more wasting money on bad call of duties.

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

I think that’s part of the issue. the CMA stated that 24% of PlayStation users would stop playing on PlayStation if Microsoft has CoD. Edit: then again Sony did lobby them and they could care less about what the consumer wants.

[@_theduckofdeath_]

@@ToxicCatt-y7c Say that figure is true. So what? Isn't that what Sony is trying to do Xbox? What they do to each other? Lasty gen Sony was reportedly ahead 2:1. Why on Earth are the regulators concerned with that migration scenario? MS is trying to get more customers and new customers probably come in at a lower rate than attrition. I'm sure both companies wish they could easily pull in first time buyers. There are always new kids, I guess. Consumer overlap is another scenario, those who buy both machines. I used to play on both up until last gen. Xbox, PS, and PC libraries were converging until the rate slowed in recent years. Regardless, one console is usually the primary platform that receives the bulk of the revenue.

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

@@_theduckofdeath_ You pretty much parroted the same questions I had about that claim. I’m not business woman but, isn’t that just competition? Also, where was this concern when everyone abandoned ship on the Xbox and went over to PlayStation when the Xbox one was in the trenches? Also the fact that they claimed Microsoft would make games more expensive. Where they sleep the whole decade when hey started pushing 70.00$ games? Video games are already expensive.

[@_theduckofdeath_]

@@ToxicCatt-y7c I'm not a businessperson, either, but I've been around a while. 😄 These regulators may not exactly be protecting Sony Playstation directly as they are simply trying to retard the growth and influence of Microsoft. The provisional findings from the EU comes months later and are identical to what was released initially. The regulators ignore the facts of Xbox's place in the market and the concessions Microsoft has already offered. What we see listed as the regulator's concerns towards the end is tacked on boilerplate. "MS might degrade games, provide fewer choices, and raise prices." This is them trying to apply actual anti-competitive, monopolistic terms to an industry where they don't fit. Ma Bell had a telephony monopoly until the early 80's. CoD is a video game, not water, food, gas or electricity. It's not telephone or internet service. Nobody needs it. Microsoft buying Sony would have cause to step in. Verizon buying Comcast and T-Mobile would have cause to step in.

[@alienNnja]

If this doesn’t go through I really hope Phil stops playing nice with Sony!

[@Leesin6767]

He won't, this is a guy that congratulates the competition while his own company is going up in flames. Jim Cryin Ryin was right to employ Spencer lol.

[@daRealB-Rex]

He won’t. I mean he was the biggest seller of PS4’s back in 2013.

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

In big tech, you don’t get anywhere playing nice…unless you’re Apple and Microsoft right now who just announced a partnership….

[@kthebarbarian8223]

I wouldn't be surprised if Phil gets fired if this deal stalls. I also expect more lay-offs at MS either way, but ACTIVISION-Blizzard will also see some huge losses. If you've noticed this deal went from Spencer being the spokesperson to barely hearing anything from him after the news that the deal was seeing pitfalls on the night of the Game Awards. Them not having anything to show at the Game Awards was just the bad PR cherry on top. Now Satiya is the one doing the interviews. I don't think Phil has too much longer

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

@@kthebarbarian8223 Why would Phil get fired over this? I don’t think anyone should be fired all because one aquisition didn’t go in their favor.

[@sithlorddarthbong4959]

@Destin if the activision and Microsoft deal had gone through without a hitch at this time last year, how different do you think the Microsoft ecosystem would be today???

[@TheBlackDot00]

Really shows you how much grease was put on the wheels over at the UK CMA.

[@a1racer441]

I don’t think they split the company, CMA seems like they will take the 10 year deal and maybe an oversight company.

[@malekaius]

Nope. 10 year deal is not happening. 10 years don’t alleviate the CMA concerns about the future of gaming. It would have to be much longer

[@mjswoosh]

@@malekaiusAnd you know this how? The crystal ball you pulled from your rectum? At this point, the public has no idea how this will play out. But, the nature of the CMA response seems to indicate they are leaning towards some sort of solution to allow the deal to go through. We shall see.

[@malekaius]

@@mjswoosh maybe address the same comment to the original post as you cope. Everyone has an opinion including Destin. Don’t cry to me just because you share a different one.

[@mjswoosh]

@@malekaius 😂 “Cope?” WTF are you babbling about? So, I called you out for being FULL OF SHIT - in that your statement was pretending to be factual while in actuality is merely an opinion that seemingly ignores what is publicly known about the CMA’s stance. So now you’re crying about being called out for being an idiot. What a 🤡 Edit: if anyone is “coping” right now I’d say it’s all the delusional ponies after they come to the realization that Sony execs traveled to Seattle to hammer this thing out. Tell us again how you “know” that 10 year deal isn’t happening. 🤡

[@ShadyDBZ4]

@Destin , a Q&A would be cool. You can’t go wrong with those as long as they’re structured and not 2-3 hours long. Sucks things are quiet right now with this story.

[@angelomar8577]

Activision- American Microsoft - American what's the problem? Sony-"Japanese" The Last Of Us-American Spiderman-American God Of War - American

[@_theduckofdeath_]

I don't think Kratos is American. 😄

[@Gizz101]

@@_theduckofdeath_ the game series

[@EllisKings]

Had a Xbox series s since launch and have been happy but these past 6 months have left me concerned, I purchased a PlayStation 5 last week and have been blown away by its exclusives thus far. Xbox needs to step up. GAMES,GAMES,GAMES!!!

[@datdude0323]

"I'm going to keep doing it...until you SUBSCRIBE!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@tantalus5370]

Microsofts ultimate goal is just to have a dongle you buy with a controller and you can play gamepass on TV or pc or phone. There would be no need to waste r&d on hardware other than server side, ultimately you could out perform other consoles by making hardware that would be like 4090 equivalent but the consumer never has to pay the price for it

[@tdrew337]

I’m really starting to think this is true :/

[@scipio8866]

@@tdrew337 its definitely true

[@daRealB-Rex]

Yeesh i hope not. That just allows PlayStation to get the majority of the console market.

[@kthebarbarian8223]

You're absolutely right. This has been MS's plan all along. "How do we get from people's work spaces with WINDOWS, into people living room? 🤔"... MS just wants you in their ecosystem, and they want to grow that gaming reach no matter where it takes them. If it means being a 3rd party publisher, they will definitely eventually take that route. The sad fact is that blind Xbox fanboys (NOT Xbox fans) are speeding this process up by not buying titles because of GP, and by excusing MS's lack of content and poor quality content every chance they get.

[@daRealB-Rex]

@@kthebarbarian8223 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻

[@Medsas]

i’d argue if a recession is coming, i predict gaming will go up, its still one of the most inexpensive form of entertainment out there. people will just stop travelling or buying expensive luxury goods and instead spend their time on games!!

[@abdel1143]

Biden Administration changed the definition of recession so that should help.

[@WanyeEast]

I agree

[@usagtone]

No doubt a recession is coming. Inflation is out of control.

[@mikeh4818]

We are not in a recession. GDP needs to be negative for 2 consecutive quarters for that to happen. GDP last quarter was 2.9% which is quite good

[@usagtone]

@@bruhnaw1456 it is going to get worse , I'm lucky I work in the food chain industry, we were given a $3 raise due to covid-19 to retain employees from quitting and to attract new employees, we are always shorthanded, covid-19 made things even worse, luckily our union in our new contract just before covid-19 managed to get in the union contract yearly pay raises based on inflation, no one could've predicted covid-19 and the inflation being too high today.

[@kenteets1407]

I just honestly can't see this going good for Sony. If the deal falls thru, how much money does Sony want to spend to keep the advantage they have. Out of shear spite I would out bid Sony on timed exclusives and extra content. Of course the CMA would think that is anticompetitive but that's not a takeover just payback.

[@daRealB-Rex]

CMa wouldn’t care because it isn’t an acquisition.

[@illestcatnnebraska7331]

Xbox has always had money to do timed exclusives… and they do them…the falconer, the medium, Scorn, High on Life…Phil is just bad at his job

[@psykorobot6807]

@@illestcatnnebraska7331 Sony has a list of games they made deals with that have made Falconer look good. Aa far Xbox they were handicapped this past gen for two reasons. One because Xbox was part of the Windows divisions and had limited resources as most of Windows (including the CEO at the time) never gave them the money and that changed a few years after Satay was put in charge of MS and he was willing to spend money. Secondly, because the PS4/Xbox One gen was so lopsided (2 to 1, 3 to 1 even 5 to 1 in some places in Europe) Xbox had to pay to make up for losses that publisher had if the game was not on the competitor. Which made deals very had to make that made sense. This time were are looking at PS3 vs Xbox 360 gen rather than previous gen (You aren't seeing 2 to 1 sales). I am sure if this deal fails you will see Satay (100% into gaming because it is part of his cloud is his thing that he has sold the board on) and in turn if he thinks and Phil sees it to the only wait to compete is to do what Sony has always done but on steroids and that means spend billions tying up similar deals, buying IP, etc.. Taht is what MS gaming willd as this gen they have both the backing of the cEO willing to invest 10's of billions for that futurte, Xbox is now its own division with Phil at the seat the big boys table with respect to Microsoft's future plans and a gen that will be much easier to workout long-term third-party deals.

[@aizentaicho82]

A divestiture isn't a bad idea. Giving up call of duty in exchange for the rest of the ABK catalogue isn't a bad deal. It would obviously lower the price of the deal as well.

[@felipesantos-er4kk]

🤦🏽‍♂️

[@aizentaicho82]

@@felipesantos-er4kk 🤦

[@sosukeaizen4381]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡

[@aizentaicho82]

@@sosukeaizen4381 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂😴😂😴😂🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡😜😜🤡😜🤡😜🤡😜🤡😜🤡😜🤡

[@zartul]

@Destin Do you think that if the deal falls apart, Xbox could use part of the money it didn't use to buy ABK, and start signing a lot of exclusivity deals with publishers? Like start pulling a lot of future thid-party games from PS to show that 2 can play this game? Because that is message the FTC and the CMA are giving, that MS should play like Sony in that regard, instead of buying the companies.

[@pixelbitg9386]

I hope that is MS response

[@daRealB-Rex]

They should do that. That’s how you make your platform attractive.

[@Marc-master-of-the-reef]

I mean Microsoft has already been doing this the 360 this isn't anything new they are doing. I mean high on life. It's exclusive. I don't get it. Xbox elitist are out for revenge for a plastic box day worship?? I'm confused

[@daRealB-Rex]

@@Marc-master-of-the-reef They're so hurt that Microsoft hasn't provided decent first party AAA exclusives in 10 years that they want Microsoft to punish Sony for their own mistakes

[@psykorobot6807]

@@daRealB-Rex No, if this deal fails, people want MS to play by the Sony rules of locking out third-party content from it's competitors. Not for 3 months or a year but for years or forever. They want to see MS do like Sony does and gameblock content from Sony' services (PS+Extra, streaming). The want MS return spending big on long-term marketing deals with COD and FIFA and other big AAA (with those billions have to spend and need to spend else they be taxed) and advertise marketing as the games being exclusive, exclusive perks, but also expand with those deals and go beyond what Sony does and bring that IP to GP day one and like Sony does know gameblock it from appearing on Sony's PS+ as long as MS have marketing rights. If this deal falls apart billions are still going to be spent might as well spend it this way and still buy up smaller studios and even (like Embracer has done on several occasions) just buy up IP itself not the developer/pub. Nothing regulators or Sony crying to regulators could do about it. Funny thing is if this deal fails, I doubt Sony would ever get a SE or similar deal through regulators without having everything thing they whined about be blown back upon them tenfold with regulators and evidence they are doing everything the want to lay on MS for might do in the future with the ABK acquisition. It is strange that Sony fanboys think Sony wasn't doing exactly what those very fanboys think Xbox is doing now. Except back in the 90's there weren't of thousands of studios and 100's of publishers but a just handful of them supporting platforms. And Sony bought up one of the largest publishers Psygnosis (one of two largest in Europe) and then took all those games that were multi-plat to PC, Sega, Nintendo and made the IPs go exclusive to PS. Much more damaging to that smaller market (where Sony was the one with the money to play around compared Sega and Nintendo); a market overturned by these Sony moves and where Sony was heavily responsible in the foreclosure of Sega in the hardware space and Sony was far more damaging to competition than anything MS could ever do by comparison.

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

This all would’ve been over sooner if Sony would’ve just accepted the 10 year deal 😅.

[@SheepAmongG.O.A.T]

We're definitely not in a recession. Media told me we aren't so yeah no.

[@ryhanon7]

@Destin regarding 10:07 - I think what he's getting at is that if subscription services *were* considered their own market then MS would be considered - by regulatory bodies - as the market leader (by a mile) as compared to anyone else. However, because they're *not* considering them as their own market, but are looking at gaming as a whole, then MS isn't even close to the market leader, which makes future acquisitions more likely to be successful for MS.

[@brogers108]

@Destin Couldn't Microsoft stop producing the "Call of Duty" franchise and rebrand it as "Announcement of Obligation" to get around obligations to publish on other platforms?

[@diablomozart]

it all depends on if one believes phil spencer or not...he said cod would stay on playstation as long as there is a playstation...i tend to think he's telling the truth because ms would make tons of cash selling cod to ps fans (unless they decide to boycott cod because ms owns it...stranger things have happened)

[@psykorobot6807]

@@diablomozart Fanboys on Twitter make up a very small amount on either platform. Most COD gamers are casual gamers not fanboys of any sort. The fact is boycotting COD by fanboys would works as well as the Hogwarts boycott did. Even with COD still on PS sizeable percentage will move from PS to Xbox jut for GP day one and access to those perks MS would attach to the game (like Sony does now with their marketing rights).

[@EdgarDeath1986]

Considering we're only 2 years in and Xbox is having year over year declines in sales and Playstation os selling at all time high's now that production isn't an issue they have to do somthing. I feel like last gen really ruined them and all the good they have done from launch of this gen dosnt matter to ppl who weren't already fans

[@TheMa5cmpb]

How about making some games?

[@EdgarDeath1986]

@@TheMa5cmpb Ya, lol. I think that would help

[@felipesantos-er4kk]

"Declines in sales" 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@TheMa5cmpb]

@@felipesantos-er4kk yes they are declining in sales

[@wilsonsantiago3095]

@@felipesantos-er4kk Sony just made the Guinness book of records for most console sales

[@elcapitan2293]

EA wouldn't care at all about battlefield if they could get a hold of COD.

[@jtb14465]

Let them divest from the COD IP but keep the studio's or at least 2 of the 3.

[@skywalk3x]

Imagine whoever buys COD, if sold, that company doesn’t sell it to MS or Sony. Also is MS was bigger in the UK than Sony would you think this would acquisition would go through easily?

[@DeadPhoenix86DP]

Source???

[@skywalk3x]

@@DeadPhoenix86DP source? It’s a question and a what if bro. I literally started with "imagine" Read before you reply man

[@DeadPhoenix86DP]

@@skywalk3x I see MS is bigger in the UK, So that's why i asked source.

[@skywalk3x]

@@DeadPhoenix86DP oh ok

[@daRealB-Rex]

@@DeadPhoenix86DP Microsoft has a massive cloud infrastructure in the UK, bigger than Amazon (who is the market leader in cloud services). Bobby Kotick has hinted that this deal will attempt to go ahead without CMA approval, which will result in Activision/Microsoft products no longer being offered for sale in the UK, which would cripple the country’s economy.

[@garrettously3605]

I cant help but wonder if it happen to be Sony acquiring Activision would they have to deal with all this BS as well...somehow i doubt it...

[@daRealB-Rex]

Sony won’t acquire Activision. Activision on their own is worth more than Sony is willing to spend on an acquisition, and they see more value in just paying for marketing rights and exclusive benefits. They would have to deal with this same stuff, and knowing how much of a fight they’ve put up against Microsoft, it’d be really tone deaf for them to put in a bid for Activision.

[@majorpeepo]

They'd let it pass none the less if Sony did it

[@Thedon-xs7ix]

Sony would buy it with no question whatsoever

[@majorpeepo]

@@Thedon-xs7ix yea Sony would hump the shit outta cod lol

[@garrettously3605]

@@daRealB-Rex we all know Sony cant afford them... this is common knowledge... clearly it was a hypothetical question....and we all know Sony would not have to deal with this level of scrutiny

[@kevinlachance669]

Q&A @Destin Do you think Xbox will have some of the studios break off of COD and switch to new or existing IP instead of helping COD each year, and what would you like them to work on? I feel like they have so many studios, and they all work on 1 game. Obviously, they have a hand full but it just seems like they have more games they could do that would be fresh.

[@SussedRage]

My nagging thoughts on all of this go all the way back to Spencer stating during an interview that he didn't see Sony and Nintendo as XBOX/Microsofts competition. All this just leaves a bad taste in gamers mouths - money, money, money... They're obsessing over huge companies trying to eat the whole cake.. Whereas if they actually just made and released good first party games they'd be on a par with Sony like they were pre xbox one. They just can't manage it, so have changed their tactic accordingly. In different methods, just look at Nintendo, giving its employees a RAISE despite reduced earning forecasts. Microsoft have to be careful the fussing over all this, plus mediocre games and studios pretty much all in chaos with layoffs is basically pushing the average gamer away. Especially in the UK. Much like what is happening at Ubisoft and other bigger money/profit obsessed giants. Disneys output is now sh*t, boring soulless factory line drivel. Microsofts own "flagship" franchise Halo has been well and truly trashed and squandered. And doesn't bode well for any studio under the umbrella. These "all their eggs in one basket" type situations only lead to the eggs breaking. If it fails the PR disaster for xbox brand will be huge. Who wants to buy a product that its own makers can't even be bothered to be managing properly.

[@jamesw884]

What a load of bs you just typed there, sony/ps is all about money money money to the point they increased game prices and console price but no bad taste there ? Sony also produce mediocre game's and more copy and paste casual based game's but ps fanboy's still over hype them and deny their mediocre, xbox was never big in the UK to begin with, the sad part is you clown's believe everything you say like it's some kind of fact no matter how much fanboy crap you say

[@felipesantos-er4kk]

Do some research 🤦🏽‍♂️, sony is irrelevant in MANY ways

[@SussedRage]

@@felipesantos-er4kk yet makes fantastic _GAMES,_ dullard...

[@pencilkarate1713]

Don’t listen to the haters Destin, keep promoting that sh*t

[@ClashFork]

I have Hope Xbox will Win

[@sauravsinghhania3624]

Just tell them sell their call of duty franchise to xbox .and after that they can publish their game on any where and keep exclusivety

[@CapitalDream]

@Destin If the UK doesn’t approve the deal why would Microsoft option is to pull out totally from the UK market, why can’t they just not sell COD for that market in the UK. It just sounds like the UK would be spiteful to Microsoft for just going over their heads

[@daRealB-Rex]

It’d be very petty for MS to pull all their products from the UK because they can’t get CoD. That’s trying to strong arm people into doing stuff they don’t want to do.

[@Leesin6767]

I always knew it would be the UK government to mess with the deal. I am surprised at how much power we have for such a small island lol.

[@jamesw884]

The cma has no power outside of itself, their power as you call it is the same as the ftc the EU and the same for every regulator around the world

[@nfg_racing7968]

They will make all current games and titles multiplat and they may have to promise any future titles to be multiplat maybe not but i dont think they will divest cod and they deal will go through

[@petegaines52]

Hopefully hoeg law talks or tweets about this situation

[@ThrillerALi]

@Destin could you and Post Up co-host a show together? Both of ya’ll are very informative about this ABK deal.

[@brent5368]

If they divest Call of Duty does that mean Microsoft gives up Infinity Ward, Treyarch, Sledgehammer, and Raven Games? That would be a big lose. Microsoft could have used those studios to help develop other games. They might have even put one on the next Halo.

[@sundarchip]

What if Microsoft sells COD off to Valve? Valve and MS seem to have a very good relationship. Assuming Valve can afford it and are interested, that would be a great arrangement.

[@ryhanon7]

MS won't get to do that because to sell CoD they'd have to own CoD and if they own CoD that means the deal went through without requiring them to divest it. That said, it would be awesome if Valve got their hands on CoD because then we'd never see another CoD again - that's a future I could get behind.

[@majorpeepo]

Valve seem to stop making games lol.

[@BRUTALSAMM]

man Take Two owning CoD, GTA and Red dead redemption is a bigger threat than Xbox owning CoD, those 3 franchises combined sold more than all games sold on Xbox

[@jamesw884]

Why not include ps games as they sold more then them as well, damn cod outsell's every ps exclusive

[@vincenthamilton9042]

I just don't see the deal going through anymore.

[@felipesantos-er4kk]

Why? "I think"

[@vincenthamilton9042]

@@felipesantos-er4kk the Uk and Sony are trying to get Microsoft to sell off some of Activision like call of duty so Sony can swoop in and get it. The uk cma doing some shady shit. If Microsoft has to sell call of duty I'd sell to a trusted company so that if Activision deal goes through they can later aquire call of duty to whom they sold it to permanently strongarm Sony from ever getting cod again. The uk is being unfair with the acquisition. It's an ambush when Xbox goes to uk Sony and cma wait there to ambush Microsoft. I'm telling you Sony it's forcefully trying to pry call of duty. It's illegal what Sony and UK are doing in my opinion. Cma wants Microsoft to sell off Activision ips to make it not worth buying Activision.

[@HFCR]

They should even stop supporting Windows software services. Let them work with Linus.

[@wilsonsantiago3095]

That won’t happen lol

[@Brentt777]

Maybe leave COD out of the deal then make every other game exclusive. Or have Activision change the COD name and pretend it's a brand new game with a different name.

[@jasonmax5759]

This will play out one or two ways. 1. It'll be blocked and Ponies will celebrate and laugh at Xbox fans. 2. It'll be approved with major remedies and Ponies will celebrate and say that was Sony's 4D plan all along. I personally know a Pony and he said #2 was their backup plan.

[@balaam_7087]

Clever. Now do the Xbot version.

[@jasonmax5759]

@@balaam_7087 I notice you aren't denying it.

[@daRealB-Rex]

Very nice. Let’s see Paul Allen’s version.

[@twostop6895]

@@daRealB-Rex Paul Allen is dead

[@daRealB-Rex]

@@twostop6895 You like Huey Lewis and the News?

[@thegamingnating6446]

@Destin why are you Pro Consolidation. When Industry Consolidation has shown to stifle innovation and competition? Also what games are you most excited for lol

[@_theduckofdeath_]

Consolidation is inevitable.

[@thegamingnating6446]

@@_theduckofdeath_ if you let it. Saying its inevitable is a poor excuse. that dont mean its good

[@_theduckofdeath_]

@@thegamingnating6446 That doesn't mean it is always bad, either. Take it case by case and try to be objective. Just because you don't like a merger doesn't mean it's bad. We have watched how many studios merge with larger publishers over the decades? How many studios go to platform holders? We are seeing big bad Ubisoft struggle now, and ABK struggle and opt to sell. Activision has been around since the Atari days. They are like the first 3rd party console dev. EA has been around almost as long. It's not indefinitely sustainable. " if you let it." Do you mean if the regulators let it? They don't have any real cause to stop it. They simply want to control big tech. Regulators are objecting to every large acquisition put forward by FAANG and Microsoft.

[@lordxboss5700]

People saying ABK and every other studio should stay independent aren’t really paying attention 🤷🏻‍♂️ these aren’t hostile takeovers these Studios are wanting to be acquired for different reasons. Some could potentially just completely shut down without being acquired 🤯Nobody mentions that, they think the studio can just continue doing whatever they were doing and everything would be fine and that’s not the case. These studios can’t afford to invest hundreds of millions of dollars over years hoping they see a return, in some cases a single AAA game flopping could completely sink the studio

[@thegamingnating6446]

@@lordxboss5700 thats a fair point. However thats not the case here. Activision is going no where and bobby is just looking for a way out because hes a piece if literally human garbage. Thats why he wants to see. Not because they are failing or in need of money

[@turismofoegaming8806]

The downfall of Xbox as we know it- It is in full effect! No surprise that a bunch of the CMA cronies, as well as the FTC cronies are all Sony ponies! It makes sense

[@paulreid4016]

If it went to the makers of borderlands, they would probably make call of duty better

[@codymerrell5387]

Bobby Kotick Activision HOPE TO SOAR IN SPYRO 4

[@nohebanful]

Q&A ? yup!

[@kaligh]

The hourglass is upside down with Call of Duty on PlayStation. If the deal doesn’t go through people will lose millions. I don’t see Activision giving PlayStation the same deals going forward. They should take the 10 year deal in support of the merger. The other thing that could play out is that Xbox says no we want everything and take the CMA to court and win. And in that case No PlayStation, FVck You!!! I have both by the way. 😂

[@_theduckofdeath_]

Nobody seems to consider the ramifications of the deal somehow being blocked and aborted. MS is offering Sony better guarantees than they have with ABK. ABK is going to be pissed off, maybe more than Microsoft. They will both retaliate.

[@kaligh]

@@_theduckofdeath_ I would retaliate to the extent of the law. PS should have took the 10 year deal and tried to at least publicly support it.

[@illestcatnnebraska7331]

How will the game sell then???… its a business right & bots don’t buy games 😮

[@JimmuTennothefirst]

I don't particular like anything ABK makes, Blizzard kinda got ruined, mobile games whatever and cod never been my thing. If that deal falls through I hope MS takes that 69 billion and puts it into first party games and studios. Phil Spencer has fixed every issue with xbox except first party games. Almost none of the acquisitions have paid off and produced anything worthwhile under 100% MS management. Buying another studio or publisher won't change that.

[@laurieannrogan1317]

THE DEAL WILL GO THRU , I AM A PLAYSTATION PERSON AND I BELIEVE IT WILL HAPPEN.

[@DanteGabriel-lx9bq]

Microsoft could just split a new Xbox division, and Activision could sell COD to them and keep the rest to the original parent company, so the problem would be solved since this already happened. If the EU is satisfied with it, they can do the same, and then the FTC would just need to give up. This chain reaction is very likely to me.

[@rashaddow]

No. The cma would not. Per cma cod would have to go to a neutral 3rd party

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

Or they can try to offer the 10 year deal and offer to extend Sony’s contracts like what they originally planned.

[@DanteGabriel-lx9bq]

@@rashaddow That would absolutely destroy COD.

[@DanteGabriel-lx9bq]

@@ToxicCatt-y7c Which they already did but thar didn't stop the FTC and CMA to be against it for some reason.

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

@@DanteGabriel-lx9bq yeah that’s the frustrating part…

[@caderik1386]

@destin Wondering what the impact of these outcomes are for ABK employees. First, sounds like Bob Kotik is sadly not going out in either scenario. Then, I was originally thinking the MS acquisition would be better for employees but with the current layoffs and hiring freeze there, who knows. And if the deal falls through, could this result in massive layoffs there?

[@majorpeepo]

So like...what's going on in the ftc? Did they burn the place down or something..

[@jamesw884]

Enough said, reset era hahaha

[@shaundowning8559]

I wonder what 2.5 billion in a cut off clause would get you in future exclusives? It’s a win win for ms in the end

[@stellargravity5195]

I mean if the Microsoft activision deal fails Activision will find someone else to buy them. I dont see any other option. Activision blizzards stock will drop significantly if the deal fails.

[@cameroncondon35]

Honestly i don't see them spinning off activision publishing but i do see them perhaps selling maybe 50% the company to lets say take 2 example.

[@psykorobot6807]

Take-Two doesn't have the money. Their stock is in the dumps. They also just got done spending almost $13 billion on Zynga. Cash on hand for Take-Two is around $2 billlion. The ABK investors want their money at high return not stock swap with depressed stock like Take-Two.

[@jimmythegamer2231]

Lol I'd find it so funny if Microsoft sold CoD to a company as random as Bandai Namco. Seeing a company normally known for making JRPGs and anime games suddenly own one of the biggest FPS franchises in the world would be so odd 😂

[@AnonYmouS00816]

Tbf even if msft sells the cod ip to sony they won't get the devs. Msft could give them cod and get infinity ward, treyarch and Sledge hammer games to make an identical game to cod called Duty Calls. Call of duty is nothing without the developers and the engines used to make it.

[@ganymedehedgehog371]

How crazy would it be if they just turned off windows in the UK

[@wodmarach]

If they are approved outside the UK thats exactly what they'll threaten, and the Tories will roll over in seconds.

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

Microsoft isn’t just gaming and Windows, they also provide cybersecurity too.

[@DestinL]

It would be pretty nuts but I don't think it'll happen

[@ganymedehedgehog371]

@@DestinL oh definitely not, but it’d be such a crazy power play

[@ToxicCatt-y7c]

@@ganymedehedgehog371 That would be catastrophic too considering that Windows runs on most of the PCs in the world (despite Windows 11 being dog water)

[@jarradcust3472]

@Destin what do you think about competitor game streaming services such as GeForce Now being accessible by the web browser on a Xbox, and that PlayStation games such as death stranding are blocked to you (even if you own it on your connected steam account). Also what do you think about PlayStation 5 not having a web browser? Do you think it is a deliberate deterrent to keep PS players walled off from competitor game streaming services such as GamePass?

[@holitinne]

Yeah, wasen’t there a talk before about closing Microsoft studios in 2015 after it’s disasterous XBOX ONE launch?

[@saintlugia]

Oh great were getting filler episode now, just wait till he starts making beach episodes

[@branmck31]

@Destin. What do you think of Sony's subscription strategy? Are Sony games good enough to skip their subscription service for 12 months?

[@Gearhead0818]

Sony is screwed anyways Activision is done with Sony I got my brother at Activision and if the deal doesn't go thru wait for exclusives to Microsoft going forward trust me

[@Swiginsomejack]

Do you still play destiny 2? And are you excited for the changes announced for lightfall

[@rafal2675]

No

[@alpha-boss]

Microsoft has invested Billions into the Xbox business.I can't see them pulling the plug on the Xbox brand unless they decide to become 3rd party....Later

[@dmauricemcneill4305]

@Destin Could Microsoft just sell the call of duty IP

[@CensorTube84]

I’m just looking at Sony (foreign company) sideways now. I won’t be purchasing a damn thing from them anymore. I’m selling my ps5 , which by the way I only purchased because of the EXCLUSIVE games or content I CAN’T play on Xbox because a foreign company wants you to purchase their foreign product. It’s this foreign company has way too much say so/influence on what a American company can buy. Foreign company also started the raising of console prices..pushing for more expensive games…paying under the table to keep games off Xbox..copying Gamepass but ps plus actually sucks and is just like the previous service they had..VR headset that costs as much as the underpowered console..remaking games that aren’t that old and charging you $70..yeah to hell with that foreign company.

[@johnbishop2536]

As an Xbox guy who makes fun of Sony a lot I think you should still keep your ps5 because the big 3 Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft are shady cunts either way.

[@johnbishop2536]

Unless of course your getting into PC gaming which I would completely understand lol

[@thefirst48gaming2]

Yea sonys litteraly doing what Microsoft is doing remaking games and giving you sequels. Microsoft kills whatever it buys halo gears rare you really want that shit quality to go into cod and diablo to?

[@atoshiol]

You're way too emotional over video games lol😂

[@dbzextreme1]

🤣 bruh, please just stick to xbox. Sony didn't twist your arm to buy a Playstation. You dudes are losing it over this deal. It's like Sony defending itself is a personal attack.

[@EpicBerserker]

if the Abk deals fails Microsoft will still have all those billions to spend and I hope they retaliate hard to Sony for destroying the deal that Microsoft goes to Japan and buyouts some big name Japanese studios or publishers on Sony home turf

[@Gaming_since_the_eighties]

If this deal get´s blocked, i believe that it will hurt Playstation and Jim "Crying Lying" Ryan. Here is the situation: Activision / Blizzard wants to sell. Microsoft / XBOX Game Studios wants to buy. CMA, EU and the UK block this deal because of Sony / PS Studios. Here is a possible scenario: Activision / Blizzard get pissed, and make exclusive deals with XBOX for the rest of this generation. Playstation will lose money, by getting no exclusive content, former playstation gamers will switch to XBOX.

[@malekaius]

This is not how business works. You don’t cut off your nose to spite the face. COD makes far more money for ActiBlizz with Sony that it does with Microsoft. Microsoft would have to pay considerably more money for marketing with a lower expected return on investment

[@kevlo16]

Why do you keep beating this drum? The CMA haven't even heard remedies yet, which will 100% include behavioral. MS hasn't said anything at all about divestiture and you're acting like that's the damn plan.

[@ryhanon7]

Destin, you should do a live stream Marvel Snap event where you play some subscribers in battle mode. That'll get you more subs and should be a fun time too.

[@daRealB-Rex]

I’ve been wanting to get into Marvel Snap but CCGs were never my thing. I used to play Hearthstone and Pokémon TCG back in 2012 but nothing since

[@ryhanon7]

@@daRealB-Rex CCGs were never my thing either. I played one match of Hearthstone because a friend wouldn't stop bugging me about it - but other than that, I hadn't touched a CCG since Magic some 25 years ago, and I never dove deep into that game either. Marvel Snap has really grabbed me though because it's simplified down to something that's easy to digest and the matches are super short - it's a great mobile game and can be played 100% free, with *everything* being accessible to all players. It's really a good time and worth checking out if you have any interest.

[@victoralistein2481]

No offence but if you are going to keep covering this try to get a lawyer that you can conversate with on this topic. This going to idas just feels very much like secondhand info or invite this idas to talk.

[@TheBlackDot00]

Hoeg Law does livestreams covering the deal as well. There's even a lawyer on Twitter covering it.

[@victoralistein2481]

@@TheBlackDot00 However Hoeg has been for sometime now as he is recuperating.

[@mauriceburdock7168]

Come on people do Destin a solid, SUBSCRIBE!!!!

[@carlcameron3524]

Didn’t Microsoft really want the KIng portion of the deal? I thought the whole reason Microsoft was pursuing this acquisition was to get into the mobile gaming business.

[@_theduckofdeath_]

They want it all. The studios, the IPs, and the expertise. All up & running, ready to be plugged into Xbox division. CoD and other titles in Game Pass will blow it up. King is key because they turn crazy profits off of lower dev costs. MS doesn't have a strong mobile game presence. MS will recoup the cost faster with all of ABK.

[@phyerboss]

At 1st they really didnt want any of it because of the "Baggage" attached to ABK and Kotick. But the issue was that NO ONE had the cash to buy them. Short of say maybe, Tencent. So after they came back to MS claiming theres no other buyers. The talks began. And the positive spin on it to the investors was "for the mobile" space. Which frankly, does make sense. As well as BattleNet. Its all stuff that can be of great use in the long term. But frankly, I feel theres more to it from those things. 1st off, theres the gaining of more teams and talent to jump on ip's Phil's been promising to bring back. IE: Banjo. 2nd, this defangs SONY. Whereas all these ridiculous exclusive maps and skins bs gets cut out for good after this current contract is up. Meaning the leverage they had to pull core CoD players over to the PS gets lost. And SONY knows this is gonna hit them hard. As they depended just a bit too much on that base and the revenue from it.

[@southrnsmoke187]

Given all the flak that these governmental agencies are throwing at this deal, I think that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard King should just take their ball and go home. I say act like a baby just like these oversight committees. Just shut the gaming companies down and nobody wins. In fact, everybody loses. And just see what they think about that.

[@felipesantos-er4kk]

🤦🏽‍♂️

[@PressALPHA]

Is it Destin or is it Kathy Bates on this video?

[@Gabriel3244]

0:20 - 0:24 or did you hit the "wrong" button? 🤣

[@florisbackx1744]

Imagine if the the merger will be blocked or made so unattractive and MS would cancel the acquisition. Could that make MS give up on competing in the game market? Then the Pro competition institutions created a market without any meaningfull competition, oh the irony!

[@daRealB-Rex]

It’s Microsoft’s fault for not knowing how to make compelling games instead of just buying up everything.

[@hugobarakas1187]

Why would this stop them from running a successful multi billion dollar a year gaming business? If the Activision deals falls through Microsoft will just spend the 70 billion buying individual studios and making deals to get games on Gamepass.

[@SnowyRains]

Nono noooooooo take 2 are horrible for micro transactions just look at nba 2k some transactions are priced higher than the game and they are providing less for more money every year.

[@silentbilly7971]

Yeah take 2 has gotten pretty bad but take2 is also Rockstar which while the dlc has been shit but I also don't play sports games but I love gta red dead bioshock and the mafia games so take 2 Is good to try and buy much better then ea or ubi would much rather see them take Capcom and wb though

[@SergeyWaytov]

@Destin Destin -- question about divesture-thing, just how much complicated it is legally to pull a Malicious Compliance to CMA, and buy everything ABK with sole exception of COD, which goes to someone else (2k for example), and walk away from it without getting slapped down for said MaliComp thing?

[@timothymoynihan8063]

There's plenty of ways xbox could still win huge if the deal fails. It could bury Sony in a huge way. It's perfectly legal. Xbox get at me.

[@dbzextreme1]

I think Phil Spencer messed this deal up. Before even owning ABK, he couldn't wait to go to Sony and gloat, offering inadequate deals. He ranted exclusives are bad, said he wouldn't make Bethesda games exclusives then pivoted. It's like a movie when the villain thinks the hero is dead and starts celebrating before confirming...

[@TheBean87]

Yeah none of that is true. They made an offer to Sony to show good faith that cod will stay multiplatform, exclusives do exclude gamers and finally they stated they wouldn’t take games away from other platforms an they didn’t. You’re correct this is a movie, Sony have convinced the brainless masses that paying extra for literally everything is better for the consumer.

[@jamesw884]

What a load of bs, so offering a competitor a legally binding contract to keep a game on ps is now gloating ? Also nobody at xbox ever said Bethesda game's would remain multiplat, they did say they'll honour all existing contract's and that's it, Phil was talking about 3rd party exclusive's not 1st party game's idiot, damn I feel so sorry for the dim wits ps fanboy's

[@felipesantos-er4kk]

Where he said that about Bethesda? Fake news dude 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@garrenseifert790]

There's no point in talking about this cause activision would never go for it

[@Javontea1000]

If they let activistion do they own thing then they just gone go back to what they been doing which cause them to sell their company in the first place.

[@tdrew337]

What if Microsoft bought Activision without call of duty, then Sony goes and buys call of duty…. 🤔, that’d be a big slap in the face, but I could see Sony doing that.

[@bon3s325]

That won’t happen it will be MS selling call of duty not Activision

[@Gizz101]

Than Sony gotta cough up probably 90% of their budget

[@extermin8or3]

Lol Microsoft can speak to rishi sunak all they want he'd nit be able todo anything not without causing a corruption scandal (because that is corruption). These clowns.

[@bastionmain7254]

Your such a Dad Destin You are on my Dad's list, just so you know ;)

[@BRUTALSAMM]

if the deal fails Microsoft could by 50% shares and ABK will make CoD exclusive to Xbox/PC cause boyyyy they'll hate Sony's guts plus Microsoft will pay them to do that lol I won't be surprised if ABK deliberately make COD exclusive to Xbox/PC just as a F you to Sony lol

[@wilsonsantiago3095]

That’s why we are in this situation lol because of this comment lolol plus they won’t activision will be so devastated.

[@TWAAAAACKS]

Yes please retire the subs begging! You already ask THREE TIMES in a video. Since you haven't, I just miss 3 videos before I decide to be bombarded by requests to sub by another video

[@UnRu1eD]

Microsoft isn’t going to Divest. If anything they pull out of the UK and or Have their Subsidiary publish for them there.

[@wilsonsantiago3095]

They won’t pull out of the UK and if they do they would have to pay a shit ton of money.

[@davidforsyth6462]

Destin ask you ogn mates to stop reporting destroyed news story about Microsoft xbox comments

[@noobsatwar1248]

I through cod mobile was getting shut down.

[@davidwineholt]

Cod mobile makes more than warzone and the main cod games on all platforms combined. Divested of cod would Microsoft still want king since they no longer have cod mobile? Candy crush is big but it's not cod mobile Cod mobile is something you build a mobile app store around Destin what are your thoughts?