Microsoft blames Sony for bringing Xbox Game Pass to PlayStation
The new twist follows a dispute between the two giants following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard earlier this year
European Press
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Microsoft he has Charged by Sony To prevent access to your cloud gaming subscription service, Xbox Game Pass on the PlayStation consoleA strategy that will result from the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard by the Redmond company.
Earlier this year, the tech giant reached an agreement to buy video game publisher and developer Activision Blizzard for $68 billion, a transaction that has been the subject of controversy for the past few months.
We must remember that Microsoft produces the Xbox, a console that competes directly in the market with Sony’s PlayStation.. In acquiring the developer, Microsoft said that it will include all of its video games created and edited in the Game Pass subscription and that with them it will strengthen the cloud service, Cloud Gaming.
Therefore, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard worried the Japanese company, which from the beginning considered that it could threaten the titles available for platforms other than Microsoft.
So much so that, shortly after announcing the closure of the commercial agreement between the two companies, Sony announced that it expected Microsoft to honor contractual agreements that would ensure That Activision games were cross-platform.
One of the reasons why Sony’s deal has been suspect from the outset, leaving the Call Of Duty franchise out of its catalog.. That’s despite Microsoft Gaming CEO and Xbox head Phil Spencer promising in writing that the saga could stay for “many more years” on PlayStation.
However, a few days after announcing this promise, PlayStation CEO, Jim Ryan said that Microsoft only offered Sony a three-year term After the end of the contract between the video game developer and the Japanese manufacturer.
At the moment, this acquisition is subject to approval by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), whose regulatory agents are investigating possible monopolies that could arise from this commercial arrangement.
One of the main regulators in this approval process The United Kingdom, which is studying the agreement in a second phase of investigationAnd who recently expressed concern about the implications of its effectiveness.
The CMA is concerned that the deal will hurt PlayStation and other multi-game subscription offerings due to Xbox developer Activision Blizzard’s ability to retain content. The agency also notes that Microsoft can use the video game publisher to beat rivals like Google, Amazon or NvidiaAccording to a document seen by GamesIndustry.biz.
To solve this problem, Microsoft reportedly tried to bring its Game Pass subscription service to the PlayStation, a move that Sony reportedly blocked, according to documents seen by The Verge senior editor Tom Warren.
“Since all video games available on Game Pass are purchasable, PlayStation players will still have the option to purchase Call of Duty on PlayStation. That way, it will cost you less than buying a new Xbox.
Another screenshot notes that “Xbox plans to offer Activision Blizzard content on its service, which will benefit players while increasing the value of Game Pass.”
“This competition was not well received by Sony, which chose to protect its revenue from the sale of recently released games instead of offering players access to them through PlayStation Plus,” the text concludes.
According to Microsoft, Sony is outselling Call of Duty
In line with these announcements, Microsoft recalled that Sony had more than 280 exclusive own and third-party titles on PlayStation in 2021Almost five times more than the Xbox, which is why it won’t be “vulnerable” if the aforementioned war video game doesn’t end up being ported.
“Sony is greatly exaggerating the importance of Call Of Duty and ignoring its clear ability to respond competitively. He has the ability to adapt and compete. Players will ultimately benefit from this increased competition and choice,” he explained in a statement shared with GamesIndustry.biz.
in any case, Xbox claims the franchise will still be available for PlayStationBecause he believes that removing it from Sony’s console will “tarnish the Call of Duty and Xbox brands.”
European Press
Source: La Nacion
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
