June 28, 2023

WW 835: Sifting Mud for Nymphs - FTC/Microsoft court hearings, Pixel Fold, consumer Cloud PCs

2 hours 39 minutes

Microsoft/FTC hearings reveal numerous details about the Xbox business

The FTC's economist could not explain how the acquisition would actually harm competition

The FTC bungled its questioning of Phil Spencer so badly that he had to explain how mergers work to the agency.

Microsoft decided to pursue AB after it learned that Sony was paying publishers to skip Xbox and that it was trying to make Starfield exclusive to PlayStation

A Bethesda executive asked Phil Spencer why AB was so different, noting that some Bethesda titles became Xbox exclusives

Phil Spencer says that Microsoft "expects" Xbox to be profitable, but he never said that it ever was. Its continual third-place finishes in the console market is what kicked off Microsoft's game studio buying spree: Sony was outspending it on exclusives

Phil Spencer also admitted to what I think is Xbox's biggest failure, it's lack of an "organic" strategy for mobile.

Spencer: there is no native Minecraft on PS5 because Sony. (Related: if Microsoft buys AB, Sony will not give AB advanced access to PS6)

Xbox Cloud Gaming was promoted as a way to get Xbox in front of 3 billion more eyeballs, but it's been used as a way for Xbox console users to test new games before they buy them.

Sony's PlayStation boss came off badly during the hearings.

Microsoft considered "spending Sony out of business." If this deal fails, it should do just that

AB demanded a better revenue share and threatened to pull COD off Xbox otherwise. They had no choice, so AB gets an 80/20 revenue split instead of the usual 70/30. Blackmail!

Microsoft considered buying over 100 separate companies to gain a foothold in mobile gaming (and overall). Key among them are Zynga, Bungie, Sega, CD Projekt Red, and Gearbox

Windows 11

Deja vu: Microsoft issues Windows 11 version 22H2 Moment 3 as a preview update

A quick update on that new switch in Windows Update

Welcome to the nanny state: Windows 11 just can't stop telling us how to do things

Microsoft wants to bring Cloud PC to consumers for some reason

DuckDuckGo's web browser is here for Windows in beta. It's as safe and private as Brave, but it is still lacking too many core features for daily use

Microsoft and AI

ChatGPT adds Bing integration in iOS

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talks about his AI conversion

Xbox

Meta launches a VR Quest+ subscription service

Google is bringing games to YouTube

Tips & Picks

Tip of the week: Xbox Series X/S storage hits lowest prices ever

App pick of the week: Stardock Deskscapes 11

RunAs Radio this week: Patching in 2023 with Sami Laiho

Brown liquor pick of the week: Green Spot:

Regular - 40% - $50

Leoville Barton - 46% - Bordeaux - $100

Chateau Montelana - 46% - Zinfandel - $100

Quails Gate - 46% - Pinot Noir - $100 CAD

Hosts: Leo Laporte, Paul Thurrott, and Richard Campbell

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