Microsoft and Sony sign deal to keep Activision’s Call of Duty on PlayStation::Microsoft and Sony have signed an agreement to keep Activision’s best-selling Call of Duty series available on PlayStation, after the conclusion of the deal.
Microsoft and Sony sign deal to keep Activision’s Call of Duty on PlayStation::Microsoft and Sony have signed an agreement to keep Activision’s best-selling Call of Duty series available on PlayStation, after the conclusion of the deal.
How so? This is just a company buying another company. They aren’t the only player in the space, they aren’t the only company making games or consoles. This isn’t monopolistic.
It may or may not be good for consumers in the long run, but whether it’s “fair” that Microsoft can buy a game studio isn’t really what the law is worried about. They care about lack of competition in the space, and there are still plenty of large competitors. Valve, Sony, and Nintendo can still easily compete with Microsoft even after this acquisition.
Microsoft saying, “We promise to continue releasing this title we now own on our competitor’s console” is more than fair. They don’t need to do that, but it’s a win-win for them and for Sony so they might as well. It works out well for them because PlayStation users will pay them money for the game, while it being free on GamePass will still incentivize coming to PC or Xbox to play it.
Say what you will about the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but a deal to continue publishing on a competitor’s console is perfectly “fair.”