<p>Microsoft/FTC hearings reveal numerous details about the Xbox business</p><ul> <li>The FTC's economist could not explain how the acquisition would actually harm competition</li> <li>The FTC bungled its questioning of Phil Spencer so badly that he had to explain how mergers work to the agency.</li> <li>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</li> <li>A Bethesda executive asked Phil Spencer why AB was so different, noting that some Bethesda titles became Xbox exclusives</li> <li>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</li> <li>Phil Spencer also admitted to what I think is Xbox's biggest failure, it's lack of an "organic" strategy for mobile.</li> <li>Spencer: there is no native Minecraft on PS5 because Sony. (Related: if Microsoft buys AB, Sony will not give AB advanced access to PS6)</li> <li>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.</li> <li>Sony's PlayStation boss came off badly during the hearings.</li> <li>Microsoft considered "spending Sony out of business." If this deal fails, it should do just that</li> <li>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!</li> <li>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</li></ul> <p>Windows 11</p><ul> <li>Deja vu: Microsoft issues Windows 11 version 22H2 Moment 3 as a preview update</li> <li>A quick update on that new switch in Windows Update</li> <li>Welcome to the nanny state: Windows 11 just can't stop telling us how to do things</li> <li>Microsoft wants to bring Cloud PC to consumers for some reason</li> <li>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</li></ul> <p>Microsoft and AI</p><ul> <li>ChatGPT adds Bing integration in iOS</li> <li>Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella talks about his AI conversion</li></ul> <p>Xbox</p><ul> <li>Meta launches a VR Quest+ subscription service</li> <li>Google is bringing games to YouTube</li></ul> <p>Tips & Picks</p><ul> <li>Tip of the week: Xbox Series X/S storage hits lowest prices ever</li> <li>App pick of the week: Stardock Deskscapes 11</li> <li>RunAs Radio this week: Patching in 2023 with Sami Laiho</li> <li>Brown liquor pick of the week: Green Spot: <br /> Regular - 40% - $50<br /> Leoville Barton - 46% - Bordeaux - $100<br /> Chateau Montelana - 46% - Zinfandel - $100<br /> Quails Gate - 46% - Pinot Noir - $100 CAD<br /> </li></ul> <p><strong>Hosts:</strong> <a href="https://twit.tv/people/leo-laporte">Leo Laporte</a>, <a href="https://twit.tv/people/paul-thurrott">Paul Thurrott</a>, and <a href="https://twit.tv/people/richard-campbell">Richard Campbell</a></p> <p>Download or subscribe to this show at <a href="https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly">https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly</a></p> <p>Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at <a href="https://twit.tv/clubtwit" rel="payment">https://twit.tv/clubtwit</a></p> <p>Check out Paul's blog at <a href="https://www.thurrott.com/" target="_blank">thurrott.com</a></p> <p>The Windows Weekly theme music is courtesy of <a href="https://twitter.com/carlfranklin" target="_blank">Carl Franklin</a>.</p> <p><strong>Sponsors:</strong><ul> <li><a href="http://lookout.com" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">lookout.com</a></li> <li><a href="HTTP://GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT" target="_blank" rel="sponsored">GO.ACILEARNING.COM/TWIT</a></li> </ul></p>
Source: https://twit.tv/shows/windows-weekly/episodes/835
Published: 2023-06-28 13:09:37