Microsoft pushes back on Sony in UK regulation disagreement
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Microsoft and Sony have been having a public fight over the former’s potential acquisition of Activision Blizzard. More specifically, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been investigating the merger, and Sony has already lodged complaints with the regulator. The primary focus of the fight? The lucrative Call of Duty franchise.
In September, the CMA announced it intended to probe the merger further. Today, it released its full text of reasoning about why it feels the matter warrants further investigation. In the text, it says, “The CMA is concerned that having full control over [Activision Blizzard’s] powerful catalogue, especially in light of Microsoft’s already strong position in gaming consoles, operating systems, and cloud infrastructure, could result in Microsoft harming consumers by impairing Sony’s — Microsoft’s closest gaming rival — ability to compete as well as that of other existing rivals and potential new entrants who could otherwise bring healthy competition through innovative multi-game subscriptions and cloud gaming services.”
Sony has decried the merger. A spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz in September, “By giving Microsoft control of Activision games like Call of Duty, this deal would have major negative implications for gamers and the future of the gaming industry. We want to guarantee PlayStation gamers continue to have the highest quality gaming experience, and we appreciate the CMA’s focus on protecting gamers.”
This fight between the two companies has taken on an open stage. Both Microsoft’s Phil Spencer
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