Microsoft's own statements backed them up, if Microsoft really mislead or deceived or straight up lied to EU like that, we would have heard it from EU, not FTC. EU would have mentioned it already, EU does not play around with this shit and they are not afraid to slap down American companies, Lol. It's going to be really telling if EC approves the deal whilst FTC is using an argument as part of EC's regulatory process to block the deal.

Also I would say that even if they did mislead EU, there is a huge difference between casually saying something and having it written down in a contract (which CoD would be) and Minecraft is evidence that they will sometimes do this sort of thing (which FTC didn't mention once in their complaint). But hey we can stick a fork in that because EC refuted it.

With EU now confirming that Microsoft did not mislead them, I'm honestly even more convinced that FTC knows that CMA is going to block the deal now. I really wish CMA doesn't be an idiot because I want to see Microsoft destroy FTC in court now, Lol.

Microsoft's own statements backed them up, if Microsoft really mislead or deceived or straight up lied to EU like that, we would have heard it from EU, not FTC. EU would have mentioned it already, EU does not play around with this shit and they are not afraid to slap down American companies, Lol. It's going to be really telling if EC approves the deal whilst FTC is using an argument as part of EC's regulatory process to block the deal.

Also I would say that even if they did mislead EU, there is a huge difference between casually saying something and having it written down in a contract (which CoD would be) and Minecraft is evidence that they will sometimes do this sort of thing (which FTC didn't mention once in their complaint). But hey we can stick a fork in that because EC refuted it.

With EU now confirming that Microsoft did not mislead them, I'm honestly even more convinced that FTC knows that CMA is going to block the deal now. I really wish CMA doesn't be an idiot because I want to see Microsoft destroy FTC in court now, Lol.

While we can't rule out that the CMA might block it, based on their behavior so far, I don't think that's playing into the FTC's decision here. Their recent track record clearly just speaks to a climate of trying to score political points, rather than any deep consideration of whether or not something will lead to a win, or even perceived win.

Explains why their arguments don't make sense.

Microsoft's own statements backed them up, if Microsoft really mislead or deceived or straight up lied to EU like that, we would have heard it from EU, not FTC. EU would have mentioned it already, EU does not play around with this shit and they are not afraid to slap down American companies, Lol. It's going to be really telling if EC approves the deal whilst FTC is using an argument as part of EC's regulatory process to block the deal.

Also I would say that even if they did mislead EU, there is a huge difference between casually saying something and having it written down in a contract (which CoD would be) and Minecraft is evidence that they will sometimes do this sort of thing (which FTC didn't mention once in their complaint). But hey we can stick a fork in that because EC refuted it.

With EU now confirming that Microsoft did not mislead them, I'm honestly even more convinced that FTC knows that CMA is going to block the deal now. I really wish CMA doesn't be an idiot because I want to see Microsoft destroy FTC in court now, Lol.

Things is even CMA preliminary decision to open an in depth investigation have been completely destroyed by the Nintendo deals and 10 years offering to Sony. So even if a phase 2 with the CMA mostly result in a block in a normal scenario, I believe MS have a great shot at being one of the few that succeed as the CMA will need to find others and better argument than it found in Phase 1 to block this deal.