While half the world marveled at its irrational decision, based on premises that we didn’t even know were going to happen, the CMA continues to brag and rejoice, under a layer of justice and reason. of its decision to have prevented the purchase of Activision by part of Microsoft. However, another of the important players in this novel, the European Commission, gave the green light to the purchase, under certain conditions, of course, but setting the example of negotiation and overwhelming commercial logic.
However, nearly the time this happened, the CMA officially and publicly stated via Twitter (?!?!) that they would continue to be right in preventing the purchase, stubbornly reiterating their own findings and claiming even Microsoft’s concessions to satisfying the EC will lead it to decide the future of Cloud Gaming by its actions in the next 10 years.
Our response to the European Commission’s announcement today on Microsoft/Activision ⬇
[1/5]
— Competition and Markets Authority (@CMAgovUK) May 15, 2023
CMA’s response distorts reality
To get the EC to agree to the deal there was a new concession from Microsoft which is quite significant meaning that if you buy an Activision game (if the deal is successful of course) you can use that game in the cloud on the platform of your choice at no cost. In other words, the license to use this game on a certain platform, be it a console or a PC, also allows you to play in the cloud, as easy as it is with the supported games. charging by GeForce Now.
But the CMA twists that decision by saying that the EC agrees that the Activision takeover will hurt the Cloud Gaming market, and that this Microsoft proposal will replace a market that should be free for one in which Microsoft decides on which platforms and under what conditions do you sell your games? We do not understand their position, when they say that Microsoft does not need to make these “exclusive” games, because it would not compensate them financially, directly linking their cloud gaming concerns to making console exclusives, which reality REVEALS the true truth of his decision.
However, after this last very subjective observation of a server, we are left with the enormous surprise that an organization as “important” as the CMA responds on Twitter to reaffirm its decision. A situation that is absurd and bizarre to say the least.
