Also on #CES2024, Nvidia confirmed that it will bring G-Sync & Reflex support for its Cloud Gaming GeForce Now with the announcement that Diablo IV and Overwatch 2 will be the latest from Activision Blizzard games entering the service. #Gaming #GamingNews

The FTC will renew its fight against #ActivisionBlizzard acquisition with in-house trial to try to force a divestiture if merger already took by 21 days after the 9th Circuit of Courts Appeals issue their decision on the Preliminary Injunction denial appeal. While there is a small chance of success in the best case scenario for the FTC, the litigation could take years anyways taking in perspective all the step backs since day one. All this meanwhile, we have to count at the UK CMA to give an approval after the Ubisoft entered an agreement about purchasing ABK's Cloud Gaming rights, entered the picture. Observers sees difficult on how FTC can justify a case were virtually should not use data and steps taken in the Preliminary Injunction hearing, should not try to proxy the CMA's process to favor their arguments & how effective is the spending of taxpayers on a virtual lost case. #Gaming #GamingNews

Just like when a failed redacted document was leaked on the Internet, it seems that the Court of North California District needs to have double-check on their office clerks. Because there was a massive leaks of findings and evidence regarding #Xbox that were filed during the failed FTC Preliminary Injunction against Microsoft on attempting to buy Activision Blizzaard. The leaked documents highlights all plans that Microsoft have for this decade including a buying spree with names like Nintendo (it will be the 2nd time since late 90's attempt), WB Games, Valve and more. AS for Xbox Hardware, despite Phil Spencer confirming that there will be no mid-gen upgrade, we could see an All-Digital Xbox Series X (no Blu-Ray ROM) by 2025 & new custom Xbox controller in 2024. Microsoft tentatively aims for 2028 to say/launch what's next for Xbox hardware. It will be interesting on the reach that Xbox wants to stretch as there are visions of maybe a proper Nintendo Switch answer for the next main hardware as an "hybrid" computing and also, a Cloud-Ready Xbox console was mentioned. Now that Stadia is out of the picture, Microsoft is already developing Game Pass Cloud Servers upgrades to prepare Xbox as a proper PC gaming streaming and no longer exclusive Xbox Series X environment. Talking about Stadia, Microsoft was wary on chances to compete, but after the first rumors of Immersive Stream, the corporate version of Stadia, was a new priority rather Stadia itself, CEO Satya Nadella asked Xbox team about any opportunities & how they see why Google failed. At the Preliminary Injunction hearing, it was revealed that Microsoft chose NOT to upper up their Cloud Gaming offering & let Stadia take the lead, precisely because Microsoft knew that it will be used against it in case of a massive purchase, like the Activision Blizzard deal. Finally in gaming software related, The Elder Scrolls VI was originally slated for a 2022 release, but Starfield took priority. Before the purchase of ZeniMax Studios and Bethesda, works on the next DOOM game, Dishonored 3 & a Ghostwire Tokyo sequel were in the pipeline. Finally, The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion and Fallout 3 remaster are also in development, meanwhile, it was mentioned that Rockstar Games is working on the next-gen upgrade of Read Dead Redemption 2. There is an expectation that more things will go public in a matter of days. #Gaming #GamingNews

New VIDEO! You Can Now Play #Starfield on ANY Computer! As the game is available in a new platform and a GG for Cloud Gaming fans that wants to play a hefty game without being a hefty thing for your hardware. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpsmcGsnvgM

Sony announced the PlayStation Portal (fka as Project Q) and for $199.99, you will be using EXCLUSIVELY Remote Play from your PS5 as NO Cloud Gaming support expectations was given and your console IS REQUIRED Are you buying a glorified Remote Play device? #Gaming #GamingNews

Originally slated as a Plan B & now the WHOLE PLAN, Microsoft announced an agreement with #Ubisoft to buy the Cloud Gaming rights of Activision Blizzard to mitigate concerns of its ABK acquisition by the regulator CMA. Under the restructured transaction, Microsoft will not be in a position either to release Activision Blizzard games exclusively on Xbox Cloud Gaming or to exclusively control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services. On Ubisoft's end, the company will compensate Microsoft for the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard’s games through a one-off payment and through a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism, including an option that supports pricing based on usage. Also, Ubisoft can add Activision Blizzard games on Ubisoft+ on the UK market. Interestingly, the CMA responded that the Ubisoft deal would also mean that games needs to be reached through Linux-based computers & not exclusively on Windows computers (probably macOS too). Finally & to add a little pressure, the CMA confirmed that this development and remade deal needs new scrutiny, which has a deadline date of Oct 18th, 2023. Hypothetically CMA taking this long, puts the ABK's Termination Fee raise if the deal fell agains Microsoft in effect. #Gaming #GamingNews

Last night two things happened: 1. Judge Corley denied the FTC an Emergency Hold to prevent Microsoft from closing ABK acquisition deal while the appeal is being processed by the 9th Appeal Circuit. 2. CMA extended their FINAL DECISION REPORT DATE to August 29 because Microsoft submitted a "complex" counter proposal that cannot be reviewed thoughtfully one time for next week (original deadline). All this occurs as once again, it is heavily suggested that Microsoft is looking on how to close the transaction regardless the CMA and it is rumored that the "complex" counter-offer is both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard selling their respective Cloud Gaming assets to a local UK company and could serve as a license holder for Activision games. Meanwhile back & back to the USA, it is believed that the 9th Circuits of Appeals could make a ruling today and probably rule against the FTC The TRO expires today which means that the window of Microsoft closing the deal can be from the early weekend to the very end of business hours of Monday. #Gaming #GamingNews

The FTC appeal against Preliminary Injunction lost against Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard got unsealed and this is the agency's rationale to request the 9th Circuit's help: 1) applied the wrong legal standard, relying on government cases seeking permanent injunctions 2) erred on Xbox Game Pass consumer benefits over potential foreclosure in multi-game subs 3) relied too much on Microsoft's cloud gaming agreements 4) missed potential partial foreclosure strategies 5) ignored the FTC’s evidence about Microsoft's incentive to foreclose In the past hour, FTC requested the very same Judge Corley to still issue an Emergency Injunction to avoid the acquisition deal being close (which is rumored to occur between Friday and Monday).

Microsoft admitted that Xbox Game Pass Cloud is being used by gamers to try games before considering buying a game. Kinda of a bad move in my opinion, Microsoft gave a hook to the FTC to push more on the Cloud Gaming rationale on not being allowed to buy Activision Blizzard.

My unrequired opinion: I am very worried of this line: "Microsoft already accounts for an estimated 60-70% of global cloud gaming services and has other important strengths in cloud gaming from owning Xbox, the leading PC operating system (Windows) and a global cloud computing infrastructure (Azure and Xbox Cloud Gaming)." And no, Microsoft ain't no saint when it comes to trying things in a monopolistic ways, BUT, this is clearly a stigma and not factually applicable on what is the concern here, gaming industry, not just a whole business. If it comes to go to court, Microsoft has better chances there than trying to rationalize with regulators already with a past experience that refused to be on the past.