Microsoft claims Sony is misleading EU regulators over impact of Activision Blizzard deal

gamedeveloper.com:

Microsoft has accused Sony of misleading EU regulators over the potential impacts of its proposed Activision Blizzard merger.

The European Commission is currently investigating the $68.7 billion deal over concerns it might "reduce competition" in the video game industry and allow Microsoft to "foreclose access to Activision Blizzard's console and PC video games," including high-profile franchises such as Call of Duty.

Reports earlier this month indicated the Commission was preparing to hit Microsoft with an anti-trust warning as part of its investigation, and now Microsoft claims those tasked with analysing the merger are being fed false information by PlayStation maker Sony.

Over the weekend, Microsoft communications lead, Frank X. Shaw said that Sony has been telling people in Brussels that Microsoft would be unwilling to offer parity for Call of Duty if the merger is completed, before adding that "nothing could be further from the truth."

"We’ve been clear we’ve offered Sony a 10 year deal to give them parity on timing, content, features, quality, playability, and any other aspect of the game," said Shaw on Twitter. "We’ve also said we’re happy to make this enforceable through a contract, regulatory agreements, or other means.

"Sony is the console market leader and it would defy business logic for us to exclude PlayStation gamers from the Call of Duty ecosystem. Our goal is to bring Call of Duty and other games–as we did with Minecraft–to more people around the world so they can play them where and how they want."

Since announcing the deal last year, Microsoft has repeatedly pledged to keep major Activision Blizzard franchises on rival platforms for the foreseeable future, but regulators remain skeptical about the deal.