This isn’t a good thing unless you’re a Microsoft shareholder. Big companies constantly go back on their word and face zero consequences. It’ll be exclusive before the 10 year mark unless the FTC starts trust busting like they used to.
Both of these companies (not to mention their combined might) have more than enough money and lawyers to tie any lawsuit up on the courts for years. They could immediately break the agreement and by the time a verdict was reached it wouldn’t matter any longer. And even then, it would be a slap on the wrists.
Good.
The CMA has also signaled that it is open to new remedies, which reportedly include Microsoft selling off the rights to Activision games in the Cloud in the U.K
Wow, the CMA really are delusional.
I can see both sides of this. I don’t think Call of Duty potential exclusivity is enough, as this practice has gone on for years from both Microsoft and Sony, but I would prefer more independence in gaming overall. I think we’ve all seen the consolidation of video games from many companies down to only a few large publishers that own most developers.
I’m not staying any right or wrong on either side but it is indicative of the larger business environment where fewer large corporations own most companies, including media, leaving less true business owners.
That’s capitalism. If I were a small dev with a successful game I would certainly be tempted by millions of guaranteed dollars from a larger buyer, cementing my and my families wealth for potentially generations, and of course with Activision and Bethesda before them, a lot of people made life changing money overnight.
Welp, I guess that’s that then!
