It wasn’t long before there were new elements in the dispute between Microsoft and Sony over the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Following Microsoft’s proposal yesterday, it was Sony that reacted more broadly to this transaction. A reply sent to the UK Commission on 28 October in an online document. The approach is always the same for the Japanese and details several scenarios in which Sony could be negatively affected by the takeover.
The three main points raised by Sony are as follows:
- The takeover poses a threat to the industry loved by hundreds of millions of consumers
- Post-acquisition, Microsoft will have the ability and incentive to exclude or limit competitors such as PlayStation and PlayStation Plus
- The transaction would cause significant harm to consumers, competitors and developers
Microsoft responded quickly and delivered two days later her version. After you :
- Focusing solely on the console market is a mistake when mobile is the most popular platform. with 94% of all gamers in the world”
- The acquisition increases competition in a Sony-dominated market
- While Activision’s catalog is popular, it lacks significant market power
- call of Duty is not a vector for platform adoption as it can be Fourteen days or Grand Theft Auto
Victory without danger, triumph without glory?
The two answers given show the extent to which Microsoft and Sony have two diametrically opposed visions. One focuses on today’s core business, while the other looks to the world of tomorrow’s gaming habits. So the question is not who is right or wrong, but who has the most attractive idea. As it stands, it seems difficult to pick a winner, regardless of the CMA’s decision. All the more so when you consider the delay with which the information reaches us. Perhaps the solution lies in a rational approach, such as that undertaken by outsiders.
