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[Godot25]

Why do people keep posting this fake account? Even Jez quoted it in his article.

Because it's not a fake account.
Yeah, he has (parody account) in the bio, but when you look at the details even people like Geoff Keighley, Grubb, Stephen Totilo, GI.biz, GameInformer, E3 etc. are following him.

 

[Kiraly]

They were all angry at Sony for supposedly paying the EC and CMA and now we have proof MS is paying politicians (not rumors, actual numbers) and they are totally fine with it. No issues, no outrage, everything is normal.

From the self-proclaimed fella who "just spits facts" everyone bahahaha

 

[Three]

Because it's not a fake account.
Yeah, he has (parody account) in the bio, but when you look at the details even people like Geoff Keighley, Grubb, Stephen Totilo, GI.biz, GameInformer, E3 etc. are following him.

I don't think it's him though. His mannerism isn't like him either. I think they are following him just like Jez quoted him. Has he confirmed he has a twitter account?

 

[Godot25]

They were all angry at Sony for supposedly paying the EC and CMA and now we have proof MS is paying politicians (not rumors, actual numbers) and they are totally fine with it. No issues, no outrage, everything is normal.

Was there any claim that EC and CMA are paid by Sony?
I remember people making fun of EC guy because he used "my PlayStation" in sentence which obviously is making him biased. And in case of CMA it was more about "CMA is parroting Sony's talk points" and not "CMA is paid by Sony." I'm sure there were stupid people who took it as "CMA is paid by Sony," but I tend to ignore extreme fanboys on both sides.

And there is not outrage for Microsoft donating to Dems and GOP because...that's how Murica works. It's called lobbying and donations. Every big company is doing that.

Here is Sony for example
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043122/lobbying-expenses-of-sony/

Here is Microsoft
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043105/lobbying-expenses-of-microsoft/

Here is Apple
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043061/lobbying-expenses-of-apple/

It's only strange for non-Americans, because in our country it is on verge of bribing.

 

[Three]

Was there any claim that EC and CMA are paid by Sony?
I remember people making fun of EC guy because he used "my PlayStation" in sentence which obviously is making him biased. And in case of CMA it was more about "CMA is parroting Sony's talk points" and not "CMA is paid by Sony." I'm sure there were stupid people who took it as "CMA is paid by Sony," but I tend to ignore extreme fanboys on both sides.

And there is not outrage for Microsoft donating to Dems and GOP because...that's how Murica works. It's called lobbying and donations. Every big company is doing that.

Here is Sony for example
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043122/lobbying-expenses-of-sony/

Here is Microsoft
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043105/lobbying-expenses-of-microsoft/

Here is Apple
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043061/lobbying-expenses-of-apple/

It's only strange for non-Americans, because in our country it is on verge of bribing.

You clearly don't remember the memes and "welcome to the family", catlady saying they raised prices to pay the CMA etc.

 

[Godot25]

You clearly don't remember the memes and "welcome to the family", catlady saying they raised prices to pay the CMA etc.

Yeah. As I said...I tend to ignore extreme fanboys on both sides. Because they have nothing interensting to add into conversation. And saying that Microsoft is paying FTC to let this deal through is same stupid shit as saying that Sony is paying CMA to get this deal blocked.

And as I also explained, Microsoft having contributions to GOP and Dems is literally how Murica works. That's why nobody is making big deal out of it. because every big company is doing it.

 

[Three]

Yeah. As I said...I tend to ignore extreme fanboys on both sides. Because they have nothing interensting to add into conversation. And saying that Microsoft is paying FTC to let this deal through is same stupid shit as saying that Sony is paying CMA to get this deal blocked.

And as I also explained, Microsoft having contributions to GOP and Dems is literally how Murica works. That's why nobody is making big deal out of it. because every big company is doing it.

Couldn't agree more but that's who ghost is making fun of. The fanboys/fangirls who were quick to get angry and suggest that Sony is paying the CMA. Now when Schumer has been meeting with Microsoft recently and getting party donations everything is apparently fine.

 

[Godot25]

Couldn't agree more but that's who ghost is making fun of. The fanboys/fangirls who were quick to get angry and suggest that Sony is paying the CMA. Now when Schumer has been meeting with Microsoft recently and getting party donations everything is apparently fine.

Well. It's not fine, in my opinion. But it's literally Murica. And it's not like Microsoft is started paying donations now to get this deal through. They are paying them constantly.
I also think that CMA was leaning towards Sony's talking points too much and they are giving cloud gaming too much of an importance in their valuation of impact of this deal. But I would never say that they are in pocket of Sony. Because if there is a company that could "overspend" Sony in bribes it is for sure Microsoft

 

[Banjo64]

"Microsoft has a history of courting Democrats. In the 2020 election cycle, Microsoft donated $13.8 million to Democrats and only $1.72 million to Republicans. In 2022, it gave $4.1 million to Dems and $1 million to Republicans, according to Open Secrets."

 

[Banjo64]

I must say that it would be fucking hilarious if this deal would pass everywhere except UK, and it would force Microsoft to sue CMA, and because of that they would be unable to have Call of Duty in Game Pass in UK. I'm sure that consumers in UK would take it as "CMA is protecting consumers"

"You want to play Call of Duty for cheaper inside your subscription? Fuck you then"

Literally could not give one single fuck if CoD is on Game Pass or not.

 

[Banjo64]

Couldn't agree more but that's who ghost is making fun of. The fanboys/fangirls who were quick to get angry and suggest that Sony is paying the CMA. Now when Schumer has been meeting with Microsoft recently and getting party donations everything is apparently fine.

Said earlier in the thread that America is the land of the corporations - it’s why a lot of the American’s here were quick to accuse the UK/EU of taking bribes from businesses, that’s how it is there but that’s not how it works here.

 

[Banjo64]

The US could very well also have the same concerns, but as it’s the Land of the Corporations, it’s nothing that a little lobbying couldn’t solve.

Predictable as the alphabet.

 

[Topher]

Lol so you only take sources that have confirmation biased for your views? They’re the only ones have someone going on the record vs all the rest of anonymous sources with vague statements. They’re so far the best sources out of all the articles.

Huh? This news about a rift is from anonymous sources as well.

 

[Pelta88]

Old.

Was posted yesterday by feynoob

Appreciate the heads up.

 

[feynoob]

If any of you kids wants the news that matters, wait for regulators decision.

 

[Topher]

Was there any claim that EC and CMA are paid by Sony?
I remember people making fun of EC guy because he used "my PlayStation" in sentence which obviously is making him biased. And in case of CMA it was more about "CMA is parroting Sony's talk points" and not "CMA is paid by Sony." I'm sure there were stupid people who took it as "CMA is paid by Sony," but I tend to ignore extreme fanboys on both sides.

And there is not outrage for Microsoft donating to Dems and GOP because...that's how Murica works. It's called lobbying and donations. Every big company is doing that.

Here is Sony for example
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043122/lobbying-expenses-of-sony/

Here is Microsoft
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043105/lobbying-expenses-of-microsoft/

Here is Apple
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1043061/lobbying-expenses-of-apple/

It's only strange for non-Americans, because in our country it is on verge of bribing.

For the record, I agree this is a massive problem in the US and most corporations engage in this very legal behavior, not just Microsoft. Personally I think this elaborate scheme of legalized bribery we have chosen to call "campaign finance" is just embarrassing. Banjo64 and myself were pointing to this weeks ago as a potential issue.

"Campaign finance"

We prefer to call it "campaign finance" these days, FYI.

 

[Thirty7ven]

Patcher stance that MS not buying AB is bad for the industry is a real hot take.

 

[feynoob]

Patcher stance that MS not buying AB is bad for the industry is a real hot take.

How else is he supposed to get money from MS?

 

[Thirty7ven]

For the record, I agree this is a massive problem in the US and most corporations engage in this very legal behavior, not just Microsoft. Personally I think this elaborate scheme of legalized bribery we have chosen to call "campaign finance" is just embarrassing. Banjo64 and myself were pointing to this weeks ago as a potential issue.

It’s apocalyptic capitalism when you allow big wallets and big corp to buy politicians legally.

 

[Godot25]

For the record, I agree this is a massive problem in the US and most corporations engage in this very legal behavior, not just Microsoft. Personally I think this elaborate scheme of legalized bribery we have chosen to call "campaign finance" is just embarrassing. Banjo64 and myself were pointing to this weeks ago as a potential issue.

I agree. In our country this kind of shit is considered a bribery and you can go to jail for it.

But...In case of America, there is no surprise, because that's how things are working there. It's like when I found out how much basic medical treatment costs in USA. It's just different world.

 

[Topher]

I agree. In our country this kind of shit is considered a bribery and you can go to jail for it.

But...In case of America, there is no surprise, because that's how things are working there. It's like when I found out how much basic medical treatment costs in USA. It's just different world.

Well, I will say that the way I hear and read things described by non-Americans doesn't always reflect the reality. I love my country. It has its issues just like every other. This is one issue that really bothers me though.

 

[adamsapple]

 

[R3claimer117]

They were all angry at Sony for supposedly paying the EC and CMA and now we have proof MS is paying politicians (not rumors, actual numbers) and they are totally fine with it. No issues, no outrage, everything is normal.

I got news for you if you don’t think all western governments are just third world country governments in a fancy dress I have a bridge to sell you. Humans are flawed by nature the idea that there isn’t corruption happening everywhere is asinine.

 

[Torrent of Pork]

 

[CuNi]

Because it's not a fake account.
Yeah, he has (parody account) in the bio, but when you look at the details even people like Geoff Keighley, Grubb, Stephen Totilo, GI.biz, GameInformer, E3 etc. are following him.

Known people and companies have also been following the Blue Box Studios Twitter and.. well... I think you get my point.

 

[Topher]

I've added actual eagle wings to my costume since then.....fyi

 

[SenjutsuSage]

They were all angry at Sony for supposedly paying the EC and CMA and now we have proof MS is paying politicians (not rumors, actual numbers) and they are totally fine with it. No issues, no outrage, everything is normal.

???


Here is Sony paying Democratic politicians. And sending money to the DSCC and DCCC (Democrat Committees for electing Democrats to Congress in Senate and House of Reps)

Guessing you don't follow news? You didn't know companies all across America lobby politicians? The only way you couldn't know this is a thing from every major corporation is if you quite literally never pay attention to any news.

And this is just the on the books stuff.

 

[Ass of Can Whooping]

Humans are flawed by nature the idea that there isn’t corruption happening everywhere is asinine.

If that's how you feel you should feel privilaged to have been born in the same generation as me. Purity incarnate. I practically radiate integrity and honesty

 

[bxrz]

It’s all coming together

 

[SenjutsuSage]

We're talking about M&A. That consent decree was because they got in trouble over user data handling (privacy concern and not M&A) and signed the decree promising things or facing further action. Has nothing to do with anything other than the FTC was involved I guess?

From the FTC regarding the actual topic:
"Anticompetitive horizontal mergers are most often remedied by a divestiture; a proposal to divest one party's demonstrably autonomous, on-going business unit will usually expedite settlement."

So just to sum this up, we're talking about M&A, and the NY Post is talking about a settlement so they can avoid going to court over it, and those settlements usually are divestitures. If you read the FTC guidelines as I've repeated several times in this thread they say they prefer divestitures because a) they are enforceable and b) they work.

The Activision deal doesn't represent a horizontal merger. It's a very clear vertical merger.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

It’s all coming together

Yep. This is significant public support that isn't insignificant to the players involved.

 

[Clear]

It’s all coming together

How do you have collective bargaining rights on an international business?
You're just setting yourself up to be outsourced, its so fucking dumb.

 

[Topher]

It’s all coming together

They are embellishing their importance.........just a wee bit.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

The President of the Communications Workers of America Union no less...

https://thehill.com/opinion/technol...-considering-a-merger-that-helps-the-workers/

This right here frames this as a massive win for the FTC and their stated goal to use antitrust enforcement to protect workers, if they take it.

It has been framed as a massive win for an administration and President who says he cares about workers and Unions (and has backed that up with action for years). I don't see how with the CWA itself going this far, and with every major Democrat of significance paying attention to this article (they will all see this, so will the White House) there's any chance left for the FTC to block this.

I fully expect the White House to begin lobbying in favor of this deal immediately and over the next couple months. I'm calling it, what is presented below is game over at the FTC. The FTC is approving this merger. Democrats in congress and the White House will demand it be so. Sony fought valiantly, but this is the end of the road for the FTC.

The reason I'm saying this with such confidence is that I follow US Politics. This will make the news channels that a lot of Democrats watch. MSNBC and other major news channels are going to end up picking this up amidst the recent railroad strike agreement.

The coming decision about whether to allow Microsoft’s merger with Activision Blizzard to move forward is a bellwether for American antitrust policy. By approving this merger, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the opportunity to make a strong statement in favor of economic democracy and provide a blueprint for an enforceable remedy to protect workers from large employers abusing market power to undercut wages and working conditions.


The coming decision about whether to allow Microsoft’s merger with Activision Blizzard to move forward is a bellwether for American antitrust policy. By approving this merger, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the opportunity to make a strong statement in favor of economic democracy and provide a blueprint for an enforceable remedy to protect workers from large employers abusing market power to undercut wages and working conditions.

Labor considerations have for too long been absent from antitrust decisions even though the potential harms to workers as the result of mergers are evident. From the start, President Biden made clear that things would be different on his watch. Restoring the American middle class by strengthening unions has been a top priority for his administration, and the president issued an executive order calling on the Department of Justice and the FTC to strengthen antitrust guidelines to address labor market concerns, with a particular focus on the tech sector.


Microsoft was well aware of this changed antitrust climate when it announced its intent to acquire Activision Blizzard, knowing that regulators would be taking a close look at the transaction’s potential impact on workers. It was in this context that we were able to negotiate an unprecedented labor neutrality agreement, which, if the merger is approved, would allow workers at Activision to freely and fairly make a choice about union representation.

Union representation and collective bargaining agreements are the most powerful tools workers have to balance power between themselves and corporations which have too much control over our economy, our democracy and our work lives. Having a strong democracy doesn’t just mean electoral democracy, although that is essential and not something to be taken for granted. It also means having more democratic workplaces, with workers collectively, through their union, negotiating contracts and holding corporate power accountable.

This is critical when considering merger impacts. Collective bargaining is a bulwark against downward pressure on wages from merged employers with increased market power. Contractual protections also mean that union workers are more likely to blow the whistle on dangerous or unethical behavior, which benefits both employees and consumers.


The telecommunications workers of my union know more about the networks they build and maintain than C-suite executives. They have painstakingly documented service quality issues, giving the Federal Communications Commission and state public utility commissions critical insight into conditions on the ground.

There is, arguably, no industry that needs a strong workforce with inside knowledge to expose wrongdoing or stand up for the common good more than tech. Our neutrality agreement with Microsoft is different from other behavioral remedies which have often been tossed aside by companies as soon as the ink was dry on their deals. This is a structural solution, creating a pathway for workers to organize and exercise their true bargaining strength, altering power relations in the labor context but also potentially empowering thousands of consumer-minded watchdogs inside the company. And it’s enforceable through a legally binding agreement.

Sony, which currently has the largest share of the video game console market, has been one of the few vocal opponents of the merger. It is a stark contrast of interests: If the merger is approved and the labor deal with Microsoft is effectuated, Activision Blizzard workers across the United States fighting sexual harassment and other poor working conditions stand to finally have a voice on the job and a chance to shape working conditions throughout the industry, and gamers will have allies inside a corporation with real protections for speaking out in consumers’ interests. If the merger is disapproved, the power relations within the gaming industry for labor stay the same, Sony protects its very profitable position as the industry leader, and consumers will have to wait and see if subscription services mature into a viable gaming option.


FTC chair Lina Khan has been a strong advocate for an antitrust policy that takes workers’ interests and fair market functioning into account. Thanks to her leadership and the outreach and interest of the FTC staff, labor is now part of the national antitrust conversation. Approving this merger with the labor agreement that we fashioned with Microsoft to protect collective bargaining rights would send a game-changing message to corporate America that workers do indeed have a seat at the table and their concerns matter and must be addressed.

It’s time to seal the deal, not blow it up.

Chris Shelton is the president of Communications Workers of America (CWA), which represents hundreds of thousands of workers throughout tech, media, telecom, and other industries. Workers at Microsoft and Activision are organizing to join CWA through the union’s CODE-CWA project.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

They are embellishing their importance.........just a wee bit.

You sound like someone who does not understand nor follow US Politics at all. They're a very big deal. This article written by their President is a VERY BIG deal.

This is game over. FTC is approving this. How do you not know that a union like the Communication Workers of America highlighting an article and agreement with Microsoft that accomplishes the following is a massive deal to an administration that is run by a President Joe Biden??? The amount of pressure that is about to come down from the hill and the white house to get this thing approved will be overwhelming. There's no question which way this thing is headed now after this.

The coming decision about whether to allow Microsoft’s merger with Activision Blizzard to move forward is a bellwether for American antitrust policy. By approving this merger, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the opportunity to make a strong statement in favor of economic democracy and provide a blueprint for an enforceable remedy to protect workers from large employers abusing market power to undercut wages and working conditions.

Our neutrality agreement with Microsoft is different from other behavioral remedies which have often been tossed aside by companies as soon as the ink was dry on their deals. This is a structural solution, creating a pathway for workers to organize and exercise their true bargaining strength, altering power relations in the labor context but also potentially empowering thousands of consumer-minded watchdogs inside the company. And it’s enforceable through a legally binding agreement.

 

[drganon]

The President of the Communications Workers of America Union no less...

https://thehill.com/opinion/technol...-considering-a-merger-that-helps-the-workers/

This right here frames this as a massive win for the FTC and their stated goal to use antitrust enforcement to protect workers, if they take it.

It has been framed as a massive win for an administration and President who says he cares about workers and Unions (and has backed that up with action for years). I don't see how with the CWA itself going this far, and with every major Democrat of significance paying attention to this article (they will all see this, so will the White House) there's any chance left for the FTC to block this.

I fully expect the White House to begin lobbying in favor of this deal immediately and over the next couple months. I'm calling it, what is presented below is game over at the FTC. The FTC is approving this merger. Democrats in congress and the White House will demand it be so. Sony fought valiantly, but this is the end of the road for the FTC.

The reason I'm saying this with such confidence is that I follow US Politics. This will make the news channels that a lot of Democrats watch. MSNBC and other major news channels are going to end up picking this up amidst the recent railroad strike agreement.

Dude, if you honestly believe that is going to happen, you're beyond fucking insane.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

How do you have collective bargaining rights on an international business?
You're just setting yourself up to be outsourced, its so fucking dumb.

It's an agreement with the Communication Workers of AMERICA! Emphasis on America. They have not some average agreement with Microsoft. The one they have is legally binding. Not a simple case of "well, we'll just outsource you to not pay your bargaining price." I don't think some of you folks get what's happening right before your eyes.

Our neutrality agreement with Microsoft is different from other behavioral remedies which have often been tossed aside by companies as soon as the ink was dry on their deals. This is a structural solution, creating a pathway for workers to organize and exercise their true bargaining strength, altering power relations in the labor context but also potentially empowering thousands of consumer-minded watchdogs inside the company. And it’s enforceable through a legally binding agreement.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Dude, if you honestly believe that is going to happen, you're beyond fucking insane.

With all due respect, I'm speaking with a lot more experience than you on every aspect of the subject, more than you'll ever realize. I'm calling it, the FTC will approve this deal. And if they were ever considering not doing so, this move by the CWA has killed any and all chances of it not being approved. This is a massive fucking deal what just took place. We already knew Microsoft had an agreement with them, but now they've taken it even further into a more direct and public lobbying effort that every Democrat of significance will pay attention to and respond to. Unions are important to the Democrat Party, the party of the President. The FTC is run by the President's party with not one, not two, but 3 political appointees in charge of making the decision.

They're not going to ignore this appeal from the CWA. You and some others clearly don't know who the CWA is and what its significance is to Democrats and the current President of the United States in this current climate. Well, you're about to find out. Probably sooner than you think.

 

[Topher]

You sound like someone who does not understand nor follow US Politics at all. They're a very big deal. This article written by their President is a VERY BIG deal.

This is game over. FTC is approving this. How do you not know that a union like the Communication Workers of America highlighting an article and agreement with Microsoft that accomplishes the following is a massive deal to an administration that is run by a President Joe Biden??? The amount of pressure that is about to come down from the hill and the white house to get this thing approved will be overwhelming. There's no question which way this thing is headed now after this.

Highlighting an article? They wrote the article. CWA is promoting CWA. Don't talk to me about understanding US politics if you can't see what this is all about.

 

[ChuckeRearmed]

Yeah, the deal is sealed at this point with the last CWA article.
This paragraph was funny

Sony, which currently has the largest share of the video game console market, has been one of the few vocal opponents of the merger. It is a stark contrast of interests: If the merger is approved and the labor deal with Microsoft is effectuated, Activision Blizzard workers across the United States fighting sexual harassment and other poor working conditions stand to finally have a voice on the job and a chance to shape working conditions throughout the industry, and gamers will have allies inside a corporation with real protections for speaking out in consumers’ interests. If the merger is disapproved, the power relations within the gaming industry for labor stay the same, Sony protects its very profitable position as the industry leader, and consumers will have to wait and see if subscription services mature into a viable gaming option.

 

[pasterpl]

It’s all coming together

Worth adding

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) is the largest communications and media labor union in the United States, representing about 700,000 members in both the private and public sectors (also in Canada and Puerto Rico).[1][2] The union has 27 locals in Canada via CWA-SCA Canada (French: Syndicat des communications d'Amérique) representing about 8,000 members. CWA has several affiliated subsidiary labor unions bringing total membership to over 700,000. CWA is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and affiliated with the AFL–CIO, the Strategic Organizing Center[3] the Canadian Labour Congress, and UNI Global Union. The current president is Chris Shelton.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Com...xt=of America ( CWA),The current president is

 

[pasterpl]

???


Here is Sony paying Democratic politicians. And sending money to the DSCC and DCCC (Democrat Committees for electing Democrats to Congress in Senate and House of Reps)

Guessing you don't follow news? You didn't know companies all across America lobby politicians? The only way you couldn't know this is a thing from every major corporation is if you quite literally never pay attention to any news.

And this is just the on the books stuff.

I don’t think he will respond to that. You just destroyed his argument so he will stay quite for couple of days.

 

[drganon]

With all due respect, I'm speaking with a lot more experience than you on every aspect of the subject, more than you'll ever realize. I'm calling it, the FTC will approve this deal. And if they were ever considering not doing so, this move by the CWA has killed any and all chances of it not being approved. This is a massive fucking deal what just took place. We already knew Microsoft had an agreement with them, but now they've taken it even further into a more direct and public lobbying effort that every Democrat of significance will pay attention to and respond to. Unions are important to the Democrat Party, the party of the President. The FTC is run by the President's party with not one, not two, but 3 political appointees in charge of making the decision.

They're not going to ignore this appeal from the CWA. You and some others clearly don't know who the CWA is and what its significance is to Democrats and the current President of the United States in this current climate. Well, you're about to find out. Probably sooner than you think.

Somehow, I highly doubt you're an "expert" on anything.

 

[SenjutsuSage]

Highlighting an article? They wrote the article. CWA is promoting CWA. Don't talk to me about understanding US politics if you can't see what this is all about.

The Democrat Party is heavily pro labor union. Unions are who organize and get out the vote to get Democrats elected in states all across America. They're the best get-out-of-the-vote operation the Democrat Party has. The culinary union, for example, is how the most vulnerable Democratic US Senator in America, Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada, won her re-election to the US Senate. The current President is the most pro-union President in US History. The CWA taking this approach is framing the blocking of this deal as against America's workers, and against unions and would be a victory for corporations over the ability for workers to have greater protections.

Politics matters. The Republicans have just taken the house of representatives. There won't be many more "legislative" victories coming for this Administration over the next 2 years till the 2024 election. As such, here is this merger and this deal served up to them on a silver platter, that reinforces everything the current administration says they stand for, and all they have to do is not stand in the way of it. Whether you agree with the deal being approved or not, it's OBVIOUS what the politics of the current administration will dictate. The FTC is currently run by 3 political appointees of the current President of the United States, the last two to make up their Democrat majority of 3 votes, voted on by the Democrat-controlled US Senate, led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Reporting tells us that the alleged commissioner that has deadlocked any attempt to block the deal, and potentially assuring its approval, is a woman who worked for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

I've said over and over since the beginning, people vastly underestimated the political ramifications of this deal. The FTC isn't guaranteed to go how people see the CMA in UK or how the EU might go.

And the crazy part is people think that Sony's own selfish demands and interests outweigh the very real interests and what's best for the American worker. Sorry, Sony and Playstation aren't that important. Some don't like to admit it, but this deal is legitimately better for the workers at Activision Blizzard than the existing status quo, it's better for the games industry. It's a very important landmark outcome for labor unions and worker rights in America with one of America's most massive mega-corporations.

Remove the fact that Xbox and Microsoft will own Call of Duty or whatever from the equation, and this isn't just meaningless promotion of a Union or of any one company. The Microsoft and Activision deal is a legitimately good thing for the country. Antitrust enforcement at its core is designed to protect workers and especially consumers. Far too often the workers side of that equation has been ignored. Few deals represent as much immediate and real benefit to real workers and to consumers as this deal would while also empowering workers and unions with a binding legal agreement that takes effect 60 days after the deal's closing. That's set. Microsoft can't get out of it.

CWA ain't just promoting CWA. They're promoting Labor Unions and Workers' right to collective bargaining. The fact they've managed to secure a deal that is a massive victory for real workers and labor unions, not just the CWA. Are you of the impression that the only union that benefits from the deal is the CWA? This will benefit even workers who decide not to be part of the CWA, or who want to join other unions.

Think beyond console wars, this deal (shocking I know) is legitimately good for American workers.

 

[Topher]

Think beyond console wars

 

[R3claimer117]

Is it any different then what the others in here are doing when it comes to wanting this deal to fail? Or the Wishful thinking and pre port begging that’s been going with gamepass parity?

 

[feynoob]

From the Twitter article.

Sony, which currently has the largest share of the video game console market, has been one of the few vocal opponents of the merger. It is a stark contrast of interests: If the merger is approved and the labor deal with Microsoft is effectuated, Activision Blizzard workers across the United States fighting sexual harassment and other poor working conditions stand to finally have a voice on the job and a chance to shape working conditions throughout the industry, and gamers will have allies inside a corporation with real protections for speaking out in consumers' interests. If the merger is disapproved, the power relations within the gaming industry for labor stay the same, Sony protects its very profitable position as the industry leader, and consumers will have to wait and see if subscription services mature into a viable gaming option.

FTC chair Lina Khan has been a strong advocate for an antitrust policy that takes workers' interests and fair market functioning into account. Thanks to her leadership and the outreach and interest of the FTC staff, labor is now part of the national antitrust conversation. Approving this merger with the labor agreement that we fashioned with Microsoft to protect collective bargaining rights would send a game-changing message to corporate America that workers do indeed have a seat at the table and their concerns matter and must be addressed.

It's time to seal the deal, not blow it up.

 

[feynoob]

Somehow, I highly doubt you're an "expert" on anything.

He isn't.
He has a stake on this deal, it's why he is super active here these days. If the deal is blocked, he could lose some of his stake money.

Even adamsapple isn't that active like him.

 

[Topher]

Is it any different then what the others in here are doing when it comes to wanting this deal to fail? Or the Wishful thinking and pre port begging that’s been going with gamepass parity?

Uh....yeah, the shit that guy writes is an entirely different level of console warrior bullshit.

 

[R3claimer117]

From the Twitter article.

Lol they have them by the balls with this one can’t sign for rail workers and derail this.