I don't believe Microsoft is holding back stock for the regulators either.
False forecasts would be illegal, I'm also fairly sure that I've read before that console ordering takes months-a year from ordering to delivery as well. Microsoft can't just say tomorrow to the manufacturer that they want millions of Series X by June, Lol. Whatever Microsoft has planned for Holiday season as an example was likely ordered months in advance, maybe even a year.
They also wouldn't intentionally kneecap their business for an acquisition, in an acquisition you have to continue business as normal, they especially wouldn't do it when they thought the acquisition would sail through, despite things maybe working out in the end, this has not gone to plan for Microsoft, they aimed for a closure in January, the extensions are delays to the aimed for closure date.
And orders that Microsoft has for Holiday will be known by the CMA as well. Microsoft doesn't need to kneecap themselves on console hardware, with more stock they would sell better but Sony would still dominate them, Lol. Microsoft won't be able to hide any secret plots to hurt themselves either, the regulatory bodies will find out, they can force Microsoft to tell them their future plans.
Something is up with Xbox Series X manufacturing, none of us know for sure what it is but it's not Microsoft intentionally self sabotaging, Imo.
