The Microsoft-Activision Deal's Competitive Impact

Microsoft is now set for a second shot at winning UK approval for its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard. Public Knowledge Competition Policy Director Charlotte Slaiman explains why she thinks the US decision to let the deal happen is not good news for consumers. She joins Caroline Hyde to discuss on "Bloomberg Technology."
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[pelangos]

I'm just wondering why the FTC is shilling for Playstation, trying so hard to protect a company based in Japan

[TheGrandeScoop]

The FTC focused on protecting sony not the consumers. The judge reminded the ftc lawyers several times throughout the trial that this is about protecting consumers not sony.

[Mozokuni]

Sony paying developers to not provide content in their competitors version of the game is anti-consumer. They have done it repeatedly with Call of Duty.

[Mozokuni]

As a lifelong gamer, it’s clear to me that many of the people in charge of regulations don’t understand the video game industry. The only company that benefits from this deal not going through is Sony. This is a win for gamers and it’s clear that many of the people talking about this I have a grudge against tech companies.

[Coder_Games]

Not sure who Charlotte Slaiman is but she clearly lacks an understanding of the video games industry because this deal is not disappointing for consumers but only to Sony it is.

[business_strategy]

The lady has no idea what she is talking about

[AndersonClips]

i wish news channels would stop pretending to understand video games.

[CraigTheBrute-coys]

Does Ms Slaiman even play video games? If so what console does she play?

[cadizking]

not a disappointment for consumers, this lady doesn't know anything about the gaming industry.

[CyberThugi]

Great for the consumer.
More access to these games.
Is a great thing.
Common Sense tells you that.

[edes]

The FTC had no case and we’re protecting a foreign market leader in the Microsoft Activision Blizzard King merger. They took their case to court and lost on all counts. Perhaps if they had based their case upon impact to consumers and not PlayStation’s business they would have done better.

[Thekingcmk]

"Disappointing result for consumer" CLEARLY she knows nothing of the industry and like always media is talking out of there ass. Outside of a few Sony fanboys everyone loves this deal.

[skilashi]

Nonsense ❗️Sony has a monopoly on the console market in N.A., Europe, Asia, etc. People are making decisions without knowing the market.

[matthewhardwick]

If Game Pass + Xcloud was allowed on every platform/ecosystem none of these concerns exist. That is why Netflix, Disney + and Prime Video are on every device possible. This deal is going to accelerate that possible future for the games industry.

[sasquatchsenpai]

Ms. Slaiman doesn't seem to understand the average contract in the video game industry between a publisher and a content deliverer, a console manufacturer, is around 3 to 4 years. 10 years is unprecedented.

She clearly has zero knowledge of the gaming industry, at all.

[ThrashMetallix]

How is this a "disappointing result for consumers"??? Microsoft has literally gone out of their way to say that they want to make Activision games more accessible to consumers via their services like Gamepass and other services, including PS+. This gives us options on playing the game for ways that doesn't immediately result in us forking over $70-$100 each time a game like Call of Duty is dropped.

Are you saying that it would be in our own best interests not to save money?

[maddominican]

LMAO this woman hasnt play a game in 35 years.she doesnt know what she talking about

[eilegz]

Im glad someone get it, the FTC botched its arguments and focus only on COD and Sony its part of the case but not the relevant part in how microsoft its doing business, pushing a unsustainable model to undercut the competition and force them out of the market just like what they did with google when microsoft bought bethesda. This its not good for consumers because microsoft have the power and ability to decide what its the best or not, there are no choice or a ilusion of one when theres wont be a healthy competition.

[thoumi]

"Disappointing result for consumers" srsly?

[RocWolf]

Is painfully obvious this one of those absolutely nothing about the video game industry. She is simply a person with an ideological agenda. Trying to get lost changed through FTC action. The FTC is part of the executive branch. Their job is to enforce laws, not create them. They don't seem to understand that