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
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.
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.
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
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 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.