Microsoft issued a response to the UK regulatory body and its concerns about the company’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In it, Microsoft claims that Sony has done more to harm the competition in the gaming industry than what it’s supposedly about to do. Specifically, Microsoft points out Sony’s decision to “block Game Pass from PlayStation.” Microsoft defends itself from potentially making Call of Duty exclusive by saying that “all games that are available on Game Pass are also available to purchase”, which, according to Microsoft, means that the purchase won’t force PlayStation owners to buy a new Xbox. In addition to this, Microsoft believes that there’s more upside to the buyout of Activision Blizzard than initially stated. Echoing the phrasing on its Activision Blizzard webpage, “more choice and more games for people everywhere,” Microsoft pointed out that this is the first time that Activision Blizzard games will become available to play via subscription. It’s worth noting that Microsoft had promised to bring Overwatch and Diablo, among others, to the Game Pass, earlier this year.
— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) October 12, 2022 Microsoft and Sony are usually privy to the finances and economics of how the gaming industry works. So, at the very least, it’s been educational following the back-and-forth spat between Sony and Microsoft as well as the regulatory bodies blocking the $70 billion deal. This isn’t likely the last bit of information that we’ll get from the Competition and Markets Authority as it has at least until March to come up with a decision following its decision to investigate the matter for a second time. Monopolization is the bane of any industry. As much as the Take-Two CEO might support the buyout while EA welcomes the challenge, having a few companies owning smaller studios as opposed to having multiple competitors on the market isn’t good. It bogs down the progress and creates an environment where consumers get the short end of the stick. In an ideal world, the Game Pass will be available on all platforms, including the PlayStation and Switch. But, that’s probably not happening. Although each of the “big three” gaming companies is guilty of monopolization in some way, the absorption of Activision Blizzard into Microsoft is concerning, to say the least. While Microsoft has every right to question the CMA for its “misplaced” doubts, giving one of the largest video game companies in the world the key to multiple franchises that have made billions of dollars over the years (the Call of Duty series alone has sold roughly 425 million copies in nearly two decades) needs more scrutiny than normal.
