350°

Germany probes Microsoft's market power

techcrunch writes: "The Federal Cartel Office (FCO), aka the Bundeskartellamt, has announced it’s opened a proceeding to determine whether special abuse measures can be applied to the company’s business in Germany — citing Microsoft’s extensive digital ecosystem which it noted cuts across multiple markets, including operating systems and office software; cloud computing; gaming; professional networking; Internet search; and — latterly — novel AI applications."

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techcrunch.com
SullysCigar428d ago (Edited 428d ago )

So Microsoft are being investigated by the anti-trust authority. It sounds like they might apply a special abuse control regime to Microsoft, like with some of the other tech giants.

EDIT @Crimson, below: I don't think this is to be conflated with the ABK acquisition. There's no mention to any particular transaction, but rather keeping an eye on reach and scope, like it did with Google and Meta, for example.

CrimsonWing69428d ago (Edited 428d ago )

They were just approved in Japan by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission.

I think with all of the drama Sony generated this is just Germany doing their due diligence and standard procedures.

I mean if they’re going after Microsoft as a whole with Windows and whatnot, good luck, you’ll then need to go after Apple and macOS.

Lifexline428d ago Show
blacktiger427d ago

Sony didn't create the drama it was FTC first. I feel bad for ms and Sony fanboys

MrDead428d ago

That's why there have been calls for over 20 years for MS to be broken up, too much influence in any industry they decide to enter.

Leveraging dominance from one market into another.

Aloymetal428d ago

Cancer spreads faster than a wild fire.

theindiearmy428d ago

Microsoft has been broken up for many years already. They've been broken up into independent divisions for some time now. Also, you clearly didn't following the calls for the break up closely. Because the calls didn't really come from regulators for being too influential. They come from investors and shareholders wanting them to operate with more modern standards and methods to better compete with the likes of Alphabet.

MrDead428d ago

"Microsoft has been broken up for many years already."

They where ordered to, but never did

"the calls didn't really come from regulators for being too influential. They come from investors and shareholders"

US District Judge Thomas Penfield Jackson was not an investor or shareholder. "Thomas P. Jackson, the former federal judge who in 2000 ruled that Microsoft should be split into two companies as punishment for monopolistic business practices" it was overturned by a federal appeals court.

"They've been broken up into independent divisions for some time now."

Like the Xbox division is independent from Azure? I suppose MS firing people from Xbox and Bethesda a few weeks ago because of lower than expected growth in Azure was just a dream.

rlow1427d ago

Which would only benefit other countries like China.

theindiearmy427d ago

MrDead, that was before they did it themselves. Again, MS has been operating under multiple divisions/brands for many years. It's no different than Meta or Alphabet having multiple divisions/brands.

Again, the calls didn't really come from regulators. That doesn't mean there wasn't one. You happen to be referencing the ONE TIME a regulators did and it failed because there was no legal reason for them to break up. All the other dozens of times it was called for came from investors and shareholders.

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427d ago Replies(2)
Lightning77428d ago

Has nothing to do with ABK. Not sure why they're approving none gaming news on here

SullysCigar428d ago

Nobody said it's to do with ABK. It's wider than that, but ABK will still factor, because they're looking at Microsoft.

If you're not happy, use the report function. This might be a shock, but there is actually gaming news outside of ABK.

SullysCigar428d ago (Edited 428d ago )

^ @Lightning77, If you read the article, you'd see they are investigating Microsoft in it's entirety and mention XBOX DIVISION. Why are you struggling to comprehend?

^ @343, whatever, just report it using the report function if you really don't get it. I just spoon fed the other guy, I'm not reporting it for you as well.

Christopher428d ago (Edited 428d ago )

"It's not gaming-related!"

The article literally mentions reviewing Microsoft gaming and cloud gaming businesses. FY reports from Microsoft also aren't gaming news, but we post those because it includes their gaming business.

Lightning77428d ago (Edited 428d ago )

Ok so talk about it what does this mean? How will effect Xbox? Will it effect Xbox? What will come out of this? Why should PS or Xbox fans care overall.

Since you're so smart.

Christopher428d ago

***Ok so talk about it ***

The article literally tells you what it means.

"proceeding to determine whether special abuse measures can be applied to the company’s business in Germany — citing Microsoft’s extensive digital ecosystem which it noted cuts across multiple markets, including operating systems and office software; cloud computing; gaming;"

"Such a finding would allow us to take action at an early stage and prohibit possible anti-competitive practices."

"dialling up the regulator’s ability to act against anti-competitive behavior by drawing on updated powers which are designed to target digital giants with so-called “paramount significance for competition across markets”."

"The German regime offers a taster of what’s coming down the pipe across the European Union as the Digital Markets Act (DMA) comes into application later this year."

So tl;dr , it's reviewing Microsoft as a whole, which includes gaming and cloud gaming and the result is more restrictive anti-competitive applications for the company.

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shinoff2183428d ago

Microsoft’s extensive digital ecosystem which it noted cuts across multiple markets, including operating systems and office software; cloud computing; gaming; professional networking; Internet search; and — latterly — novel AI applications."

Says gaming right in there. Might bot be related to abk specifically but gaming sure

SullysCigar428d ago

^ @Lighning77, you're beyond help at this stage. Multiple people have tried to explain, but it's obviously beyond your scope of comprehension. It's not your fault, but it's nobody here's fault either. Just move on.

jznrpg427d ago

@Lightning it means you choose to believe whatever makes you feel better and facts are secondary

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itsmebryan427d ago

@Lightnng
They have to find something negative to say about Microsoft on thus site. Yet, I haven't seem any articles on Japan approving the the ABK deal or much on the US accusing Sony of being a monopoly in Japan.

Christopher427d ago

Seriously? You people create your own fantasy worlds.

https://n4g.com/news/254342...

https://n4g.com/news/254269...

https://n4g.com/news/254331...

Every single one of those is hotter than this news bit. People need to stop acting like victims when one bit of bad news pops up. The ABK news has pretty much been dunking on Sony most of the time, and for some good reasons, but this isn't about ABK but it is about a form of regulation that would apply to Xbox.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 427d ago
Hofstaderman428d ago

Trust the Germans to spark something off…I kids

EvertonFC428d ago

zeeee Germans 🤣😂 halt, went to Germany before lockdown, great place Berlin ☺️

Hofstaderman428d ago

Nein, MicroSuft. We spielen Sony 😂

CrimsonWing69428d ago

Please tell me that’s a Snatch reference, because if it is, you totally get bonus points. Lol.

Love that movie!

lelo2play428d ago ShowReplies(1)
Thundercat77428d ago

The company accusing Sony yo have a monopoly in Japan has a probe for its marketing power.

How ironic.

Show all comments (55)
70°

Cheat Provider To Pay Call Of Duty Creator Activision Nearly $15M In Damages

Cheat software provider EngineOwning will pay Call of Duty creator Activision nearly $15 million in damages and legal fees.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
Jin_Sakai1h ago

Cheat providers for competitive games should be illegal.

Garethvk5h ago

We can hope. Especially if the rumors of Cillian Murphy and Alaska are true.

RaidenBlack2h ago

That'd be too good if true.
But Henderson also leaked that next Far Cry setting was targeting some asian island.

Relientk775h ago

Assassin's Creed Hexe is what I wanna hear about most. Yes I wanna play as a witch with magic during the 16 century witch trials in Germany (as per rumors). Sign me up

Huey_My_D_Long5h ago

Yeah, Hex sounds amazing to me as well, and I've been playing since AC 1. I'm real curious how are they gonna fit the magic into the game, maybe in similar way the dlc introduced gods and god abilities. but I love that I've heard its gonna have a horror vibe.

Garethvk5h ago

Hopefully it is full of good stuff.

RaidenBlack2h ago

The studio just completed Avatar and busy with Outlaws and also got their F2P Heartland cancelled ... IMO, Division 3 will surely come but it'll take more time.
I'd be most thrilled if Ubisoft greenlits a sequel or at least a remake of the studio's first game i.e World in Conflict

anast1h ago(Edited 1h ago)

I would get hyped about Hexe. If the rumors are true, UBI might get a gold edition purchase out of me.

Demetrius5h ago

Hopefully gameplay of ac shadows or star wars outlaws, if they finally announce the new far cry I'm definitely getting that, far cry still fun af and gorgeous games, yeah ubisoft has their faults but atleast they're not copying souls like games their titles still have identity

neutralgamer19923h ago

We will definitely see gameplay for star wars and AC. Farcry let's see

OtterX4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

I'm going to be an outlier amongst the rest of these comments.... give us something NEW! I'm pretty burnt out on Ubisoft franchises, unless you're giving us a new Rayman game!

*Edit - imagine what they could do with a Rayman 3D game in this day and age. I say now is the time to revisit the series.

RaidenBlack2h ago

Would love a AAA PoP too or a back to roots Ghost Recon (none of the open world stuff)

MeatyUrologist2h ago

Hell yes! Ghost recon in the style of the originals with real consequences, permanent and all!

Garethvk4h ago

Beyond Good and Evil 2: It is coming really; we promise.

OtterX4h ago

Their microtransaction monetization scheme on it will lie somewhere between good and evil!

Haha JK.... it'll be completely evil. 🙃

Show all comments (17)
350°

PlayStation Aims to Entice PC Gamers to Play Single-Player Sequels on Consoles

Sony aims to release live service PlayStation games day & date on PC and PS5, but single-player games will have more "strategic approach."

-Foxtrot14h ago

How? I’m sorry but how when they literally port their games to the PC now after not even 2 years, it’s rumored GoW Ragnarok is next.

The best thing they could have done is focus on the generation before with PS3 / PS4 titles and when it got to the PS6 then start porting PS5 games so people will want to get the sequel on the new console

Now PC gamers just wait it out because they know it’s coming

Redemption-6410h ago

Rock Star does the same thing. Release 1st on consoles, wait a year or two then release on PC. It's clearly a strategy that works for them.

They don't need a lot of PC gamers to move to Playstation, but they just need a few who would also buy into it and possibly double dip. There are some very unhappy gamers on Twitter, who wanted to hear day and date for all games.

Cacabunga8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

Fox
Your analyse is not accurate..

If sony keeps things the way they are then they will grow the business. Some pc gamers who really liked God of War for example might buy PS4 or 5 to play Ragnarok. Same if they announce ghost of tsushima 2 or a new Ratchet game.

-Foxtrot6h ago

Rockstar?

Yeah I loved playing Red Dead Redemption on PC…….

@Cacabunga

I highly doubt it, PC gamers have their setups, if they didn’t budge for years to get a console despite all the cool exclusives then they aren’t going to budge now knowing a new PS5 game will get a port 2 years later

Crows904h ago(Edited 4h ago)

@cacbunga

Basically you're functioning under the assumption that PC players are impatient, rich and stupid.

Most will not budge. But if the hype is real enough they'll get a few. But those few won't actually be invested in the platform.

thorstein10h ago

How?

According to Sony, by co launching live service games like Helldivers2 day one, then enticing PC players to want to play sequels on the console for SP games.

That's how. If you play Ghost of Tsushima and Sony launches GoT 2 on PS later this year, you're more apt to want to grab the console and play the sequel instead of waiting.

Domkakop8h ago

Don't think you have a grip on how PC players consume.

ThinkThink8h ago

Yeah, pc players are the most patient of players. They will just wait for the game to come to pc.

Tacoboto7h ago

You're just spitting back out the Sony PR line.

PC-first and PC-centric gaming is a different beast. Helldivers 2's popularity and GoT's popularity are because they're good solid games, not because they're from PlayStation publishing.

It's the same PlayStation that put Helldivers 2 for sale internationally, then pulled their PSN-Steam removal card. The same PlayStation that released Returnal with UE4's dreaded shader stutter. The same PlayStation that released TLOU Part 1 in a broken state.

If Sony's PS4 slate of titles didn't convince PC gamers, if their current PS5 titles still don't, ports of games they've had *years* of knowing and reading and hearing about aren't going to convince them to finally buy a console.

Don't fall so easily for the same PR BS that fabricates quotes from their own studio heads.

VincentVanBro7h ago

Nah I’ll wait for the best version on PC lol

JEECE6h ago

I mean that's certainly the thinking, but for most PC gamers that just won't work. Like in a rare circumstance if someone was already on the fence about a console that might get them to take the plunge and buy a PlayStation, but it will be the exception rather than the rule.

-Foxtrot4h ago(Edited 4h ago)

PC gamers are super patient

There's no f****** way, for example, they are going to get a PS5 the moment Ghost of Tsushima 2 is announced just because they played the PC port of the first game

The mindset?

"Ah cool GoT2 has been announced, really enjoyed the first game. Anyway I'll just play on the dozens of other games I have while I wait for the obvious PC port from Sony in like 2 years"

Not a chance they'll all wait now.

thorstein2h ago(Edited 2h ago)

@tacoboto

"You're just spitting back the Sony PR line."

I literally said: "According to Sony."

I was responding to someone who asked "How?"

I gave Fox an answer that reflects Sony's thinking. Maybe read the OP's comment and then reading a reply to that person as if it's an answer to their question instead of sounding off in such a bizarre way. See Jeece's reply to mine.

@Dom I do. Sony may not, but then again, they've made billions in the gaming industry and you've made $0.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 2h ago
romulus236h ago

You're mistakenly speaking for all PC gamers, there are bound to be some people who are not willing to wait and for Sony those are potential console buyers.

RaidenBlack3h ago(Edited 2h ago)

eh, no ... if a PC gamer is playing on a PC, they'll continue to do so ... there are tons n tons of games on Steam alone and the steam gamers' backlog stories are one of the most discussed topic you'll find in PC forums ... indie is already huge there, plus early access, PC-exclusive titles, VR, big publishers' titles and now Sony's ports too.
Realistically speaking, usually there's not enough time to complete the backlog alone, than go buy a separate console altogether.
The only game that has the power somewhat to make a PC gamer to get a console is GTA VI.
PC gaming existed and proliferated well before this recent Sony's PC decision.

StormSnooper2h ago

@romulus23
True, there will be new gamers who will be exposed to PlayStation IPs, and they will possibly obtain PSN accounts, both of which make people more inclined to purchase PlayStation.

romulus233h ago

"Not a chance they'll all wait now."

You don't know what all of them will do. Some may wait some may not.

StormSnooper2h ago

Well, if they want the games when they release, they will need a PlayStation. If they are ok with waiting, then they can do that. I think it’s a sound gameplan for PlayStation. The release of games on PC, will generate additional fans for the ips.

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helicoptergirl14h ago(Edited 14h ago)

"While Helldivers 2 was released day and date on both PS5 and PC, don’t expect single-player narrative-driven games to be released in the same boat by Sony anytime soon. - This was confirmed by PlayStation’s soon-to-be co-CEO Hermen Hulst in Sony’s business segment presentation"

There you have it. Won't be 'day and date' single player games on PC anytime soon or for the forseeable future. They understand single player games are Playstation's backbone.

CrashMania13h ago(Edited 13h ago)

So much for the nonsense narrative that playstation is somehow failing so they are going to immediately start releasing every single game day and date on PC lol.

Elda10h ago

That is what the competition has to deal with.

Domkakop8h ago

Yea people tend to project the behavior of their favourite failing publisher onto Sony. Sony is not a failing publisher

Elda10h ago

Agreed. First & foremost Playstation not only wants to sell their AAA first party games but their gaming consoles to play them on that is why their AAA first party games come to PC later after it sells on PS consoles.

ocelot0711h ago

I was told that Playstation was doing so bad on here and on X that Helldivers 2 was going to release on Xbox and Sony was going to start releasing all games on pc day and date with playstation. Why do people constantly lie on the internet!!!!!

Hofstaderman10h agoShowReplies(1)
Fishy Fingers10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

We've gone from you'll never see PS games on PC, to you'll never see any PS games day one on PC, to you'll see some PS games day one but have to wait for others.

I mean, its kinda looks like it's heading one way no? That "wait" is going to get shorter and shorter.

Fishy Fingers9h ago

It's happening.

God of War 2018 - 4 years
Horizon Zero dawn - 3 years
Horizon Forbidden West - 2 years

StormSnooper2h ago

Well, with MS going full PC/multiplatform, PlayStation will need to adapt. Luckily, they are in a position to hold the fort for all lovers of console gaming. Otherwise, if MS’s business model was the norm, we can all kiss console gaming goodbye.

Thank god for Sony.

HankHill34m ago

Exactly. As usual, the usual suspects on here are coping and moving goal posts.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 34m ago
XiNatsuDragnel10h ago

That's a smart move because at the end of the day playstation is a hardware business and need to sell hardware folks

Software_Lover9h ago

Meh, I'm done with consoles altogether.

Bathyj8h ago

Considering the amount of bangers PlayStation and Nintendo make, your name doesn't sound very apt.

darthv728h ago

Well I think he means that on PC, all software eventually is playable on it. Which is true.

Consoles just are a convenient way of playing some sooner than later.

ApocalypseShadow7h ago

Darth, all software eventually is playable on PC through emulation and theft of games. You forgot that part. It's not through legal means.

andy855h ago

Most, not all. Unless you're talking emulation

Mad_Matt5h ago

Apocalypse- You consider emulation theft of games? LMAO
Way to shill for corporations.

Software_Lover2h ago

This gen has been trash. I was already on the fence but caved and bought the consoles, I have regretted that decision. Most of the games that I would play come to PC anyway. I'm done with consoles. I have had the best time with PC this gen and a good amount last gen that it just pulled me away.

XiNatsuDragnel2h ago

@Shadow
Emulators and emulation are legal not rooms you're inaccurate

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