Supreme Court allows Activision Blizzard sale to proceed with Microsoft
The Supreme Court has rejected a request from a group of gamers trying to stop the Activision Blizzard sale from going ahead, meaning the deal can proceed as planned with Microsoft. A separate attempt to appeal the court decision has also been rejected, meaning the deal should close within a matter of weeks.
The move comes after the Federal Trade Commission attempted to intervene in the case, asking the court to delay the deal while it reviewed it. That attempt was itself rejected, but the gamers then attempted to appeal that court decision, which has now been turned down by the highest court in the US.
The news will likely be welcomed by gamers who are happy to see the deal go ahead, but it will surely be met with some frustration by those who feel it should be blocked. Overall there’s a mix of apathy and happiness among gamers, with many simply prioritising playing indie games rather than worrying about who owns the major publishers.
Others are more concerned about the future of the industry, however. “I’m not a fan of Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard,” one user replies to the news. “This is a bad deal for the consumer.” Another replies, “I’d love to see more competition. It’s good for the consumer, but I fear that it won’t be.”
Others point to Microsoft’s track record when it comes to adding value when it acquires companies. “Microsoft has a proven track record of turning acquired companies into profitable divisions,” one replies. “Activision Blizzard will be fine,” another replies sarcastically.
There’s also a debate about the impact of exclusivity on the gaming industry. Some say it creates competition, and incentivises developers to make better games to ensure they’re available on the most popular platforms. Others point out that all games being available on all platforms would promote more competition, and would benefit gamers just as much.
Discussions also break out about Nintendo and Sony’s approach to exclusivity. Some suggest that Sony’s exclusivity deals (which often see third-party games released on PlayStation first) are a good thing because they promote competition between platforms. Others say that Sony’s deals are irritating, because they lock games out from other platforms without any real justification.
Others are completely indifferent about the acquisition and simply say that they’re more interested in playing indie games than worrying about who owns the major publishers. One reply says, “I’m just a gamer that wants to play good games, regardless of who makes them.” Another replies, “PlayStation fanboys are unhappy about this?”
The news of the Supreme Court’s decision will likely be met with mixed reactions. There are questions arising about the status of the acquisition and the possibility of divestiture (which was suggested by the FTC), but otherwise many users seem content to let it go ahead.
While there’s a mix of opinions among the gaming community, the number of people supporting the deal is clearly divided. Many feel it’s a bad idea, while others are more optimistic about the future of the industry under Microsoft’s leadership. Check out the full conversation for more of your thoughts on the Activision Blizzard deal.
