We thought we had seen the worst Sony has to offer in attacking the deal. But now the FTC will officially try to block the deal, we ain’t seen nothing yet lol
You called down the thunder, now reap the whirlwind
Your most anticipated upcoming Xbox RPG in 2025? | |||
The Outer Worlds 2 | 2 | 11.76% | |
The Elder Scrolls: Oblivion remaster/remake | 5 | 29.41% | |
Fable | 7 | 41.18% | |
Avowed | 3 | 17.65% | |
Total: | 17 |
We thought we had seen the worst Sony has to offer in attacking the deal. But now the FTC will officially try to block the deal, we ain’t seen nothing yet lol
You called down the thunder, now reap the whirlwind
In a complaint issued today, the FTC pointed to Microsoft's record of acquiring and using valuable gaming content to suppress competition from rival consoles, including its acquisition of ZeniMax, parent company of Bethesda Softworks (a well-known game developer). Microsoft decided to make several of Bethesda's titles including Starfield and Redfall Microsoft exclusives despite assurances it had given to European antitrust authorities that it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles.
"Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals," said Holly Vedova, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition. "Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets."
"Microsoft decided to make several of Bethesda's titles including Starfield and Redfall Microsoft exclusives despite assurances it had given to European antitrust authorities that it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles."
Is there an actual source for this? I'm assuming not.
Ride The Chariot | Games Completed ‘25 Edition
When the FTC uses the bad argument that MS broke its promise to not withhold Zenimax games from PlayStation, you know they have no actual legal precedence to actually stop the deal. MS never promised any such thing. Pathetic.
VersusEvil said: "Microsoft decided to make several of Bethesda's titles including Starfield and Redfall Microsoft exclusives despite assurances it had given to European antitrust authorities that it had no incentive to withhold games from rival consoles." |
It's probably their interpretation of MS saying they wouldn't take existing games off PS
Fuck them workers and unions, I guess, Lol. Dems just screwed unions twice in a year.
Big tech bad. Meanwhile more awful stories out of Blizzard.
Last edited by Ryuu96 - on 08 December 2022sharing this for overall context. :)https://t.co/ZRY2wxQasr
— Frank X. Shaw (@fxshaw) December 8, 2022
Looks like Microsoft is ready to fight it, they're already countering FTC's claims of a promise to EC.
In its merger notice to the European Commission on ZeniMax, Microsoft stated: “Microsoft will honor all
of ZeniMax’s obligations to continue to make its current games available on other gaming hardware,
including two planned console exclusive releases for the Sony PlayStation 5, Deathloop and Ghostwire:
Tokyo.” (Microsoft ZeniMax Form CO, January 29, 2021, at pp. 4-5
It further stated: “Microsoft will not make any existing ZeniMax games exclusive to Xbox. They
will continue to be available for purchase for PCs and other gaming hardware for which they are
currently available, which will ensure that they continue to be available to current players of
those games. Microsoft will not be removing players’ access to any current games, no matter
where they currently play.” (Microsoft ZeniMax Form CO, January 29, 2021, at p. 13.
After closing of the acquisition, Microsoft honored ZeniMax’s commitment and the first two games
released by Bethesda Game Studios – Deathloop (released September 14, 2021) and Ghostwire: Tokyo
(released March 25, 2022) – were made available as timed console exclusives (one year) for Sony
PlayStation. As a result, gamers on Xbox could not play Deathloop until September 20, 2022, when it
could be made available for individual purchase and in Game Pass (one year after it launched on
PlayStation 5). Ghostwire: Tokyo remains unavailable on Xbox per Sony’s restriction
For future games, Microsoft also maintained its position:
• In its merger notice to the European Commission on ZeniMax, Microsoft stated: “Future decisions on
whether to distribute ZeniMax games for other consoles will be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into
account player demand and sentiment. Factors that will inform Microsoft’s decision-making on future
games include consumer demand and preference and the willingness of third parties to work with
Microsoft to launch games for their devices.” (Microsoft ZeniMax Form CO, January 29, 2021, at p. 5).
It further stated: “For future ZeniMax games, Microsoft intends to make these games available
for purchase on PC and, where the games are designed as native mobile games, on mobile
devices running both iOS and Android. Future decisions on whether to distribute ZeniMax games
for other consoles will be made on a case-by-case basis, taking into account player demand and
sentiment, Microsoft’s strategic and financial goals, and the willingness of third-party gaming
hardware providers to run Microsoft games and services. Microsoft will make all acquired
games and future releases available to subscribers of its Game Pass service on the day the games
are launched (which can be used to play on PCs, Xbox consoles and Android mobiles), but does
not currently anticipate distributing them through other subscription services. This reflects
Microsoft’s broader strategy to promote a subscription-based model which it believes will
generate value and choice for game players. This policy would not preclude players from
downloading or buying these games outside of Xbox Game Pass: Microsoft anticipates that
existing games and future multi-platform games will be available for purchase from relevant
digital storefronts of all major consoles and PCs.” (Microsoft ZeniMax Form CO, January 29,
2021, at pp. 13-14)
In an interview with Bloomberg in September 2020, Phil Spencer noted Microsoft’s position on
distributing ZeniMax games for other consoles: “Clearly our commitment with this move is that Xbox and
PC and people playing on xCloud and Game Pass will get ZeniMax’s games … in terms of other platforms,
I think we’ll make a decision on a case-by-case basis.
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Someone is lying, and it looks like Microsoft has the proof to back their statements up.
Angelus said:
It's probably their interpretation of MS saying they wouldn't take existing games off PS |
Yeah MS promised they wouldn’t take existing games off rival platforms and they would legacy games. Which they have. FO76 and ESO is still up to date and the Fallout 4 next-Gen patch, Skyrim anniversary edition, and the Quake remaster are released/going to be released on other platforms.
You called down the thunder, now reap the whirlwind
FTC: You promise EC this and that.
Microsoft: Here's the receipts.
Lol...FTC looks like they're either lying or can't read.
I'd like to hear what EC has to say about this Tbh.
The people at the FTC woke up and decided to be absolute buffoons I see. They have zero legal case and will only waste taxpayer money on this suit. Hopefully a judge blocks it from ever seeing trial.