According to Microsoft, Sony is the “industry leader”, which is to say that it has conceded and lost the console wars. Microsoft’s reply comes as it tries to convince regulatory bodies of its attempt to purchase Activision Blizzard and how it’s in everybody’s best interests. In line with that, Microsoft has outlined the benefits if it becomes the new owner of Activision Blizzard as well as the best-selling franchises such as Diablo and Call of Duty, among others. Of course, Microsoft could just be saying this to try and make sure the deal pushes through.
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) November 8, 2022 Microsoft is facing much more resistance and scrutiny than it most likely expected in its Activision Blizzard buyout. Even though Microsoft’s CEO has expressed his confidence that the deal will happen, it’s still possible that it won’t, until the dust has finally settled. Numbers-wise, the console wars aren’t that much of a war at all. In terms of units sold, the PS4 (117.2 million) and the PS5 (25 million) outsell their direct competitors by a massive margin. Since it can’t convince EU and UK to approve the deal based on its promise that it won’t make Call of Duty, among others, exclusive, Microsoft is now trying to appeal to the fact that the “industry leader” shouldn’t worry too much if in case Xbox ends up having Call of Duty all to itself. Speaking of Call of Duty, Modern Warfare 2 has set a new franchise record with its opening weekend.
