Oh kick ass! I remember them adding mod support, but it was limited to specific games. That’s a big step in the right direction! I’ll have to start using it there now. 

Yep as someone who loves to tinker and mod their pc files i was happy out when i seen they now allow you to do this.

Wells Fargo upgraded analyst Brian Fitzgerald moved his rating on Activision to overweight from equal weight and kept the $95 price target, noting that even though the antitrust landscape across the globe remains "uncertain," the stock does not reflect the company's potential.

"We believe the market is likely undervaluing the company due to: a failure to consider the impact of a $3B breakup fee; an under-appreciation of the company's prospects as a standalone video game publisher, and quite possibly; a miscalculation of the deal's chances at getting through antitrust," Fitzgerald wrote in a note to clients.

Fitzgerald added that if the deal does not close, Activision is set to receive a $3B breakup fee and even at a conservative 13.5 multiple to consensus 2023 EBIT estimates, the stock is worth $76 per share.

"From our conversations with event-driven and M&A arb traders, we believe most are using $64-72 as a breakup price, at which the current price of ATVI ($73.47) implies a 6-31% chance that the deal closes," the analyst added.

Fitzgerald also pointed out Activision's "record-breaking" Call of Duty launch, which generated $1B in sell-through in the first 10 days, as well as strong engagement in Overwatch 2 and continued strength in its mobile division.

Truist analyst Matthew Thornton also upgraded Activision, moving his rating to buy from hold, noting that even without the $69B deal from Microsoft, the company has improved its fundamentals, as well as the fact it could have between $12B and $13B in net cash that could be used for buybacks or other purposes, such as deals.

"Activision should have a big 2023 with [Call of Duty] in a very healthy place (record recent MW2 launch, plus recent Warzone 2.0, plus upcoming Warzone Mobile in 2023), with [World of Warcraft] in a healthy place (recent Classic content, upcoming Dragonflight expansion), with dormant Overwatch and Diablo franchises being stood-up again (with Overwatch 2, including PvE in 2023, and Diablo IV in 2023), with Blizzard mobile in a healthy place (Diablo Immortal plus Warcraft Arclight Rumble, we assume in late 2023, and we believe more in the pipeline beyond 2023), and King continuing to be solid/consistent," Thornton wrote in a note to clients.

Activision Rises as Multiple Analysts Upgrade, Citing Favorable Risk-Reward (NASDAQ:ATVI) | Seeking Alpha

Analysts are now saying that even if the acquisition fails, ABK is a great investment, and pointing out that ABK will receive $3bn from MS if it fails, Lol. This one from Wells Fargo in particular doesn't seem convinced that the deal will pass. I'm fairly confident if delayed past July 23 and if ABK continues to be healthy, Microsoft will have to pay a lot more than $68bn.

I believe MS will clear the CMA because at the end of the day, what the CMA is looking at is something MS can easily provide whatever concessions they want.  This is why I do not believe the CMA poses any real problem for MS.  Its way to concerned about COD which is something MS can easily provide them with whatever concessions they want towards that IP.  It really does not matter for MS because COD will be like Minecraft and it will just continue to print money.

The FTC really have nothing that they can really block this deal over.  There is nothing that ABK gives MS that upsets the game market and if COD is still the thing they throw on the pile, those are just easy concessions MS is more than willing to make.

From the moves I have seen MS make, they are 100% on GP.  They do not care about the Console war, they are not concerned about the PC space like the regulators believe.  GP just do not have enough users to say their is a monopoly so the regulators cannot really concentrate on that service.  ABK property outside of COD have plenti of competition.  Most of Sony arguments can be contested based on Sony own tactics and huge marketshare.  MS is really looking pretty strong if you ask me and it would definitely need to be some very underhanded stuff to go on to stop this purchase.  Not saying that it cannot happen but from what I see so far, things look like smooth sailing.

I would not be surprised that MS did not sandbag getting their games out this year because they can show weakness.  Think about if MS had a Steller year with big IP dropping on time, their case would be harder to represent.  Coming short on GP subs is a win.  Coming up short on game sells is a win, I am telling you MS has been playing this game and basically leading the results into their favor every since they went for this deal.

CMA is a wildcard, on the one hand, their Phase 1 arguments were absolutely crazy, on the other, the Phase 2 team is completely different from the Phase 1 team but that also means we know nothing about the Phase 2 team and how they're thinking. Then you add on that CMA has very little legal oversight, very rarely loses cases and since UK has left EU, CMA has blocked quite a lot of deals, plus regulators, particularly in the West, are desperate for a win against big tech.

Their "issues" seem easily dealt with via concessions but if they don't think the concessions are good enough then they'll just block the deal. Hard to say which way they are leaning; I don't know how "political" CMA is feeling lately.

FTC definitely has nothing they can block the deal over, and they'd lose in courts, but they've been losing a lot lately, doesn't stop them from trying, Lol. At minimum is seems that FTC is going to ask for concessions (that's fine, then the deal will pass easily) but if it's a sue to block then I suspect their goal is what I said above, either hope CMA blocks or hope it delays the deal long enough to cause a renegotiate.

The latter is a risk, Activision-Blizzard clearly wants to sell, so they'd have to hope Microsoft doesn't want to pay over $68bn, which if a renegotiation happens, Activision will ask for a lot more than $68bn, plus, Microsoft is having to put any other acquisitions on hold for a long time which isn't ideal.

It's not going the way Microsoft wanted it to, but it's not doom and gloom, yet. I'd still put the deal at more likely than not at passing.

If the FTC sue, I am 100% sure they are playing right into MS hands and it will have the effect of passing this deal through the CMA. The reason is because MS will crush it going to court and use that as a means to crush any opposition from any other country. Unless the FTC has a smoking gun, it will allow MS to put us such a defense, it will be hard to argue against it. I feel all this has been calculated and MS is more than happy to plead their case in court. A win in court just solidifies your stance and the deal.

Hopefully not Hellblade 2 for the 3rd time even though it’s one of my most anticipated games from 1st party, imo Starfield will likely be there and maybe Redfall with both having release dates if they are still on schedule for the 1st half of 2023.

Unless they surprise us with a GCI/In Engine teaser for any of the unannounced projects that they have it’s down to either Contraband or Avowed.

Decided to change course and do Dragon Age: Origins first (the 5hrs I've put in DA2 I'll get back by not needing to do a second playthrough due to importing a DA:O save). Will be the first time I've ever gone for a full 1750GS in this game. Looks like my December is fully stacked now.

Jez trying to get word out there that Xbox may not be at TGA for regulatory reasons but I don’t buy it. Starfield, Redfall, Ara: History Untold, and Avowed are my biggest hopes. 

If Hellblade 2 is there, it has to be with a release date!