Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision has been described as the largest in tech history. It deserves scrutiny. That scrutiny has paid off: Microsoft has committed in writing, in public, and in court to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for 10 years on parity with Xbox. It made an agreement with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to Switch. And it entered several agreements to for the first time bring Activision’s content to several cloud gaming services. This Court’s responsibility in this case is narrow. It is to decide if, notwithstanding these current circumstances, the merger should be halted—perhaps even terminated—pending resolution of the FTC administrative action. For the reasons explained, the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore DENIED. "

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[–] lp0101@lemmy.world 112 points 1 year ago (4 children)

This is really a tough one. I hate consolidation, but I also really hate Bobby Kottick.

[–] Sturgist@lemmy.ca 70 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Well, you're really gonna hate the fat pay out he gets.

[–] AnonTwo@kbin.social 54 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He was always going to get it though

[–] Goronmon@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago

Yeah, in no version of how this played out was he going to not receive hundreds of millions of dollars. That was never an option.

[–] Reamen@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

I don't care how much he gets as long as he isn't in charge anymore.

[–] LetMeEatCake@lemmy.world 26 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Kotick gets rewarded by the deal going through. Billions of dollars from the sale. Worst case for him after that is a few hundred million from a golden parachute if he's fired. We have no real reason to think he will (or won't, to be clear) be fired though, so there's a very real chance this is full reward for him: giant piles of money and continues to get to run Activision-Blizzard, just with Microsoft bosses above him.

The deal going through isn't something you want if you hate him.

[–] lp0101@lemmy.world 21 points 1 year ago

He was filthy rich anyway, a few hundred million more doesn't make any difference. If the deal gets him out, then that's still a small win, despite Microsoft owning even more developers

[–] Reamen@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

The only reason I'm for the merger is that I know how much Microsoft can affect a corporations executive structure. I would hope they are already planning to replace him already, but either way he won't last when he gets tossed into MS' culture.

At least, that is what I'm hopping.

[–] Xanvial@lemmy.one 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Is there any news what will happen to him? Usually on buy out like this, the previous CEO will be appointed as VP or other executive in parent company

[–] LostMyRedditLogin@lemmy.world -5 points 1 year ago (3 children)

At least Kotick is capable of making good game franchises before killing them with endless sequels. Microsoft is completely incompetent at making games unless it's a driving sim. This is the final nail in Bliizard's coffin. Bye bye Warcraft, StarCraft, and Diablo.

[–] nostalgicgamerz@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It potentially could have opposite effect. Spencer said that one of the IPs he wanted to revive was StarCraft

[–] Drtrillphill@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

World of Starcraft MMO inc

[–] NOT_RICK@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Microsoft is completely incompetent at making games

I mean, AoE was pretty awesome

[–] Reamen@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I think that's the point of the Xbox Game Studios. They purchase a bunch of existing games studios with good talent and let them mostly manage themselves and their own games direction.

MS doesn't want full control anyway because yeah, they aren't great at it. They just want to buy enough companies that they get the money from the good games. Then they'll pull the good talent out of the shitty studios and shut them down.

[–] Methylman@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I remember once upon a time browsing the Microsoft game studios site and getting excited for the upcoming RTS releases

[–] Reamen@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't think Kotick was really in the picture when all their game franchises were being created. The only thing he's good at is acquiring already successful games and companies and then squeezing everything he can out of them before they turn to shit.

[–] LostMyRedditLogin@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He made Call of Duty from the ashes of Medal of Honor Allied Assault by helping form the studio Infinity Ward. He wisely bought Guitar Hero from a small device manufacturer. Under his watch Tony Hawk and Spyro made several hundred millions before he ran them into the ground. I hate his guts, but I'm not going to deny his business acumen. There's a chance MS doesn't even replace him and he can go further into MS executive suite.

[–] jwagner7813@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

He's a POS in the industry. He's great at finding good products, or even diamonds in the rough, and absolutely destroying them in some way. Usually in the form of MTX or some other abhorrent method that us gamers tend to hate.

I don't think anyone denies his ability to find great software, it's what he does after it that everyone hates.