Subj : Activision Blizzard exec claims that Sony CEO just wants to block To : All From : TechnologyDaily Date : Thu Mar 09 2023 12:15:03 Activision Blizzard exec claims that Sony CEO just wants to block Microsoft merger Date: Thu, 09 Mar 2023 12:10:03 +0000 Description: An executive from Activision Blizzard has publically stated that Sonys CEO wants to block the formers merger with Microsoft. FULL STORY ====================================================================== An Activision Blizzard executive claims that the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment is committed to blocking the formers merger with Microsoft, potentially at the expense of PlayStations access to Call of Duty. Microsoft is currently trying to acquire Activision Blizzard, though it claims it doesnt plan on making the games exclusive to the Xbox Series X |S. To guarantee this and appeal to the UK governments Competition and Markets Authority, the body that approves company mergers that may create unfair monopolies, Microsoft reportedly offered Sony a ten-year agreement to ensure Call of Duty would continue to release on Playstation consoles. However, according to an Activision executive , head of Playstation Jim Ryan refused this offer saying, I dont want a new Call of Duty deal. I just want to block your merger. Microsofts ongoing attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard is on hold, following a lawsuit undertaken by the Federal Trade Commission of the United States. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) exists to enforce antitrust laws which seek to prevent the formation of monopolies. The FTC filed the suit on the grounds that Microsofts proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard would enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles. The FTC isnt alone in its scrutiny of the acquisition. The UK governments own Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) provisionally found that, since the acquisition would make it commercially beneficial [for Microsoft] to make [Call of Duty] exclusive to Xbox [the merger] would substantially reduce competition in gaming consoles to the detriment of gamers. With these assessments firmly in the public eye, it seems obvious why SIE would be keen on preventing the acquisition. However, even in this context, Ryans alleged statement is surprisingly mercenary in its treatment of the Call of Duty franchise in a manner that may well complicate the ongoing legal saga. Executive decisions (Image credit: Activision Blizzard) The Activision executives tweet initially came as a response to a tweet from Tom Warren , senior editor at The Verge. In his tweet, Warren tweeted a quote from sonys ongoing interactions with the CMA. In the quotation, Sony claimed that Microsoft might release a PlayStation version of Call of Duty where bugs and errors emerge Even if such degradations could be swiftly detected, any remedy would come too late, by which time the gaming community would have lost confidence in PlayStation as the go-to venue to play Call of Duty. In discussions surrounding the potential for Microsofts acquisition of Activision Blizzard to create illegal monopolies, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on Call of Duty. Microsoft and Nintendo even entered into a historic Call of duty agreement where the former committed to bringing the FPS juggernaut to Nintendo consoles to ease the concerns of the FTC and other antitrust bodies. Jim Ryans alleged statement suggests that Call of Duty could be little more than a means to an end for Sony, a sentiment reminding us of the corporate world's cutthroat and mercenary nature. Should Ryan honestly not want a Call of Duty deal, Sonys emphasis on the much-beloved series would seem disingenuous and potentially even hypocritical. We have reached out to Sony for confirmation of Ryans statement. Activision Blizzard acquisition is 'in the best interest of gamers', says Xbox boss ====================================================================== Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/activision-blizzard-exec-claims-that-sony-ceo-j ust-wants-to-block-microsoft-merger --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A47 (Linux/64) * Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100) .