It doesn’t matter what they say the regulators analysed the market they don’t just accept your word for it. Indeed the CMA produced data from external sources to show MS underestimated their global and U.K. market shares in their own data. It was a legitimate error it seems rather than MS trying to pull a fast one but still….
They need to manage their upcoming projects well as a priority first. Their content pipeline, without ABK, is still very strong, on paper. Executing that well and strong hardware sales should be easily doable. Xbox being the next Sega is still far from happening. Take a deep breath and relax, my friend 
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Ill be interested to see Microsofts response. Some of the data they provided is virtually impossible.
Oh my bad.
Hoeg said on twitter he still thinks this will close.
Anyway my opinion on CoD is much the same as everyone else, for me personally I was only interested in Call of Duty because I like to play the occasional campaign - beyond that my interest in seeing them get it is purely cause I know how big it would be for Xbox. So if they end up having to conceed CoD and can keep a King, Blizzard and maybe a few Activision studios? Personally it wouldn’t hit me that hard.
That said, at this point if there is any amount of behavioural concessions that gets it through with Call of duty they should do it. Like even if they strip away just about every major perk of owning Call of Duty it’s still a huge revenue source and they would still hold marketing. That to me is still a huge win for Xbox (not that I am saying going THAT far will be necessary?).
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It would save me a ton of money yearly. That is the number 1 thing. The rest is just icing on the cake to see all of the people against this deal moaning and crying will make my day. 
BTW when you said pass through, it means the deal pass right? and not fail cause pass through could mean a couple things depends on how people perceived it.
Folks will find something to mope about for sure.
It’s like we can’t handle happiness.
Who is we? I know i can. 
GamePass drops, lack of marketing, future acquisitions, exclusives announced years ago with no release dates or updates in sight, there is plenty to complain about as an Xbox fanboy !
I would hope Microsoft can still retain all the Activision studios. If they could sell the COD business to Ubisoft probably by getting something like 40 percent of the company. Ubisoft has the manpower or developer strength to support COD annually without needing to get the studios and adding additional developers. The idea will be like how Xbox bought the GEARS franchise or business from Epic or how 343 was formed to handle HALO after Bungie’s departure.
Assuming that is the way they look at it also Satya and Phil won’t be there forever. I do get what you’re saying but sometimes I get the sense Microsoft is looking at things from a different perspective and gauging it there. The gaming industry hasn’t been very nice to them and even with these regulatory proceedings one might think these regulators are just fanboys.
Well, the gaming industry will be forced to change their ways soon as they haven’t felt the potential impact of Xbox exclusive games from Bethesda yet. Hi-Fi Rush was a small teaser for that. Despite this ABK situation, Xbox is still in a healthier position than the last generation and almost close to beating the 360 generation in terms of 1P games output.
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If he thinks its passing, I think its passing.
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He also didn’t think the FTC was sueing.
The only experts that have been valuable info wise is FossPatent and Mlex.
Sorry Hoeg.
Hoeg isn’t providing info, he’s providing his opinion/prediction.
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Technically the FTC has not sued Microsoft (despite headlines saying they have). They issued an administrative complaint. They have to go to federal court to sue Microsoft.
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Because he is basing his opinions/predictions on the law. Prevailing opinions seem to be in line with his assessments too. The FTC case is weak and they shouldn’t have challenged it. Them embarrassing themselves isnt a reflection of his legal acumen.
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To be fair, the FTC:
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Did not have a justifiable or coherant argument;
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MLex reported what we expected to be true: the FTC rushed their verdict and never even spoke with Microsoft at all in an attempt to sway the EU and CMA’s verdict. Even Microsoft was confused about this;
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The crux of the FTC’s “argument” was revoked by the EC the very next day, which is pretty damning.
Hoeg clearly shouldn’t take an L on that just because there’s an embarassing ideologue heading the FTC.
FossPatent, as well, has been very much in Microsoft’s favor.
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I’m convinced no one wants any glimpse of good side of news and any bad one from someone they don’t even know who until now apparently will be granted into opinion sphere. Not to mention, acting like they’re 100% right automatically because it’s bad.
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