Game Over for Activision? PlayStation 6 Exclusion Looms if Xbox Acquisition Gets Green Light
Sony's CEO reveals potential repercussions of Microsoft's Activision acquisition, suggesting a lack of access to PS6 details if the deal is finalized
Sony CEO Jim Ryan has expressed concern over the potential Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard, stating that it may hinder the sharing of details regarding the upcoming PlayStation 6 console. This acquisition has faced significant opposition from Sony and the Federal Trade Commission.
In the recent deposition between the Federal Trade Commission and Microsoft/Activision Blizzard, Jim Ryan's statement highlights that if the Microsoft acquisition is approved, no information about the PlayStation 6 can be shared with Activision Blizzard. Ryan justifies this decision by expressing the concern of allowing a company owned by a direct competitor to have access to such sensitive information. Consequently, this restriction would eliminate the possibility of any Activision Blizzard franchise, including popular titles like Call of Duty or Crash Bandicoot, having a launch title on the successor to the PlayStation 5. Sony's apprehension regarding this acquisition reflects their deep concern for the potential impact on PlayStation's standing within the industry.
However, this concern is somewhat contradicted later in the deposition when it is mentioned that Sony continued to collaborate with Mojang, the developer of Minecraft, even after their acquisition by Microsoft. The details regarding this collaboration are largely redacted in the document, leaving it uncertain how this information relates to Sony's future relationship with Activision Blizzard.
With its potential to significantly impact the global video gaming industry, the Activision buyout has garnered widespread international attention and raised apprehension among various countries, including the United States and New Zealand. A key concern revolves around the potential establishment of a monopoly by Microsoft within the industry. Microsoft's extensive track record of acquiring numerous video game studios in recent years, such as id Software, Rare, and Bethesda, suggests that their approach to expanding their presence in the industry primarily involves extensive acquisitions. Valued at $68.7 billion, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard would mark Microsoft's largest investment in the gaming sector thus far.
