^ Yup, Microsoft had no regulatory pressure or obligation, still did it though, might as well, like we've all been saying for the past year, Call of Duty is not being removed from PlayStation.

Have to wonder if Sony knows that the CMA is approving the deal now, they wouldn't have signed it if this deal wasn't basically a wrap.

Yep, this is exactly why Microsoft still went for it.

Basically, the FTC is completely fucked and really has no case now.

- The appeal that is still pending

- And the actual thing in August.

That's why Microsoft signed it even if they had no obligation; that's smart. 

Looks like Microsoft is working hard this weekend ;)

So is this different than the 10 year deal for Nintendo? Not seeing 10 years...

But the devkits...

The FTC will likely drop their appeal for PI and drop their internal process after this, I don't see how they can continue when Sony was 70% of their argument vs 30% that was directed at consumers.

The funny thing is, if they do so, they'll just add credence to the thought they were only doing Sony's bidding. That's being between a rock and a hard place big time.

I don't think Microsoft gives a shit about FTC's trial in August (which has no power) or the appeal (which has like 1% chance of success) but this pretty much utterly destroys FTC's case now to nothing left, especially with how much they were stupidly focusing on console still rather than cloud which was the "better" angle of attack.

Surely! The FTC drops their case now, they have nothing left and Microsoft can save a little money in lawyer fees demolishing the FTC in court (again) and the FTC can stop wasting their already limited funds, they'd be the most incompetent regulator in the world to continue their appeal now.

Wonder what has become of the gamers' lawsuit, they're probably shaking their boots thinking they'll, in the end, have to pay for their legal fee XD or so it would if Sony did not finance it.

I'd be curious to hear the details of this deal. IIRC...Didn't one of the Sony emails say that Jim Ryan wanted guarantee for all ABK titles and a block on Game Pass unless the title also comes to PS Plus? Them leaving it so late has probably meant they've been given a worse deal than they could have got if they negotiated more with Microsoft.

We already know that Bobby Kotick offered Jim Ryan a deal to extend the current marketing contract with Sony which would have in effect blocked Game Pass for even longer than 2024-2025 but Jim Ryan refused to talk about it because "I just want to block your merger" Hell maybe they could have negotiated longer than 10 years even, Lol. Sony overplayed their hand, if Jim accepted Kotick's offer then PlayStation could have probably had marketing + Game Pass block for an extra 5 years or something, Lol.

Man, that's just common sense... Seriously.

But as you said, caving out would look so bad for them that I'm pretty sure they will continue... 

Google: We're happy to announce that Stadia is back alive, and we've signed a 10 year deal with Microsoft!

Jk. Fuck Google.