Activision Blizzard's year of news appearances is almost unbelievable, but perhaps none more so than the announcement that Microsoft and Xbox is purchasing them for just under $70 BILLION in cash.

With Phil Spencer and Satya Nadella already out in force, Microsoft now moves to more formal PR mechanisms, introducing a long form promise to be the "good guys" as described by Microsoft President Brad Smith through the company's "issues" blog.

But what does it mean to assure Call of Duty's continued presence on PlayStation? And does the company really expect credit for self-serving promises already made?

It's always good when a multi-national, multi-trillion dollar company pledges to *follow the law*, but we question whether it really deserves a cookie...in Virtual Legality.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO AT: https://youtu.be/XESJWGwchXs

#Activision #Microsoft #Antitrust

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SEASONED GAMING BITCAST - SUNDAYS AT 11:00 EASTERN

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgHBXONMT06nX_8RZ5r32UA

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CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction

02:22 Answering the Call of Duty

03:50 An Epic Callback

07:02 PR Promises

15:38 Principles and Principals

25:37 Laws in the Pipeline

28:46 Answering the Call Part 2

32:25 Xboxes and Double Standards

38:37 Conclusion

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Discussed in this episode:

"Microsoft x Activision"

Hoeg Law Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy_vBs7Qt9-ROfumOtIrSdP8

An Antitrust Epic

Hoeg Law Playlist

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy-lb7ReoUqL5_dTcM8ngmfV

HOEG LAW VIDEOS

https://youtu.be/i4-vxNc3H3Y

https://youtu.be/G82ZnoHQ3NA

TWEETS

https://twitter.com/XboxP3/status/1484273335139651585

DOCUMENTS/ARTICLES

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2022/02/09/open-app-store-principles-activision-blizzard/

https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2020/10/08/app-store-fairness-caf-interoperability-principles/

https://app.box.com/s/6b9wmjvr582c95uzma1136exumk6p989/file/807135002509

https://appfairness.org/

https://www.theverge.com/22914479/open-app-markets-act-legislation-senate-committee-markup-explained

https://www.forbes.com/sites/paultassi/2021/07/15/the-nintendo-switch-oled-estimated-to-cost-only-10-more-per-unit-to-make/

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"Virtual Legality" is a continuing series discussing the law, video games, software, and everything digital, hosted by Richard Hoeg, of the Hoeg Law Business Law Firm (Hoeg Law).

CHECK OUT THE REST OF VIRTUAL LEGALITY HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1zDCgJzZUy9YAU61GoW-00K0TJOGnPCo

DISCUSSION IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS LEGAL ADVICE. INDIVIDUALS INTERESTED IN THE LEGAL TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS VIDEO SHOULD CONSULT WITH THEIR OWN COUNSEL.

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Twitter: @hoeglaw

Web: hoeglaw.com