Recent correspondence between Sony and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) reveals the company’s continued resistance to Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard. Sony has expressed worry that the performance and content of Call of Duty on PlayStation could be negative impact by Microsoft’s takeover, which could lead to supporters defecting to Xbox. There is concern that PlayStation will lose its status as a preferred platform for playing Call of Duty if Microsoft releases a version of the game on the platform in which bugs and mistakes only become apparent in the game’s concluding level or after later updates.
Related: Microsoft-Nintendo Switch Agreement Brings Call of Duty to Switch
Sony claimed that it and the CMA couldn’t effectively monitor how Microsoft prioritizes the Xbox One and PC versions of Call of Duty, or how many and which types of engineers work on the PS4 (PlayStation 4) and Xbox One versions, to guarantee Sony Interactive Entertainment’s (SIE) fair and equal treatment. It would be counterproductive to reduce the standard of Call of Duty on PlayStation, as the resulting anger would be directed more at Microsoft and Activision than Sony.
Conversely, Microsoft stated in its CMA answer that the company is willing to meet or exceed Sony’s standards for the Xbox platform in terms of release date, content, features, improvements, quality, and playability. To retain Call of Duty on PlayStation, Sony must approve Microsoft’s suggested 10-year agreement, and Microsoft is open to appointing a third-party assessor to ensure platform parity.
Sony’s message also restated its worry that Microsoft would move Call of Duty away from PlayStation by making it a Game Pass exclusive. Microsoft, however, disproved this assertion, saying that pulling Call of Duty from PlayStation would make no financial sense.
By April 26th, the CMA will have decided on the transaction. Following reports that Microsoft will release Call of Duty and other titles on Nintendo and GeForce Now platforms, the European Union is reportedly ready to approve the combination.
