Activision CEO thinks appealing Microsoft deal is a waste of money
The Activision Blizzard deal is one step closer to the finish line, and no matter which side of the fence you sit on when it comes to the benefits and drawbacks it brings to the industry, we can all probably agree that we're sick of hearing about it.
The gaming industry has learned far more about the legalities of acquisitions than they bargained for when Microsoft's intended buyout was announced, and we're just about ready for it to be over.
And it looks like the CEO of Activision Blizzard agrees. It's kind of a shame to have something in common with him, to be honest.
Bobby Kotick says the FTC would be "wasting taxpayer money" with an appeal
Now that only the UK CMA stands in the way of the Microsoft purchase of Activision Blizzard and the companies have agreed on a cease-fire in order to negotiate, many have voiced their opinion on the current standing of the deal. And disgraced Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick has chimed in with an interview with CNBC, agreeing that the FTC putting in another appeal would be bad for everyone.
"I'd be surprised if they'd waste taxpayer resources on something like that," says Kotick of the potential that the FTC could launch another appeal before the closing date of the deal.
"The opinion was a very well-written opinion like I said, [Judge Corley is] a very deliberate judge, I can't imagine that the Ninth Circuit would grant the stay, you never know. But I think that would be highly unlikely, and it just wouldn't be productive."
Bobby Kotick speaks on Microsoft's potential compromises
Click to enlargeMicrosoft still has to find an eventuality that pleases the UK CMA, and Kotick has spoken on what he thinks would be a fair compromise for both parties.
"There's enormous competition. Xbox is the third-place competitor in the console gaming business. Nintendo and Sony have had dominance in the business for almost as long as I've been in the business. In the Cloud there's nothing but competition. […] There's nothing that we really need to be doing that's going to encourage more competition. This transaction gives an opportunity for us and Microsoft together to actually be able to compete against these entrenched competitors."
So it looks as though Kotick doesn't expect Microsoft to have to cave to pressures from the CMA - but he's likely to be met with a shock when he finds that the UK still isn't happy. Here we go again.
