Activision is not creating anything unique, says Microsoft

Yesterday we informed you about how Sony called Call of Duty an indispensable brand, which is so fundamental that it influences players when choosing a console. Microsoft is responding to the concerns of its rival, who wants to buy Activision Blizzard for a record $68.7 billion.

In a 118-page document obtained by the New Zealand Trade Commission, the Xbox owner defends the acquisition, saying: Activision Blizzard Doesn’t Create Anything Unique. The company’s catalog should not contain games that gamers need or that a competitor’s hardware sales depend on.

Microsoft does not believe that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will in any way affect the earnings of other companies or the competitiveness of the market.. In the document, in addition to Sony, the American company mentions the Chinese Tencent (23 times), Valve, Epic Games, Ubisoft and CD Projekt RED.

Microsoft reminds the Trade Commission that Sony and Nintendo also have their own exclusive games.. The American giant understandably focused mainly on the PlayStation and highlighted key titles in the form god of War as well as Spiderman Marvel since 2018 and also Last of us as well as unexplored. Microsoft reminded that Sony owns the rights to Spider-Man. Microsoft is likely hinting that Sony has allowed Spider-Man to be added to the PS5 and PS4 versions of Marvel’s Avengers, but not to the PC and Xbox versions. She is also mentioned in the document. Final Fantasy VII Remake exclusive from Square Enix.

Microsoft is also highlighting its intention to make Call of Duty and other popular games available on Sony platforms before and after the end of their current contracts.. He also promises to take similar steps in the case of Nintendo..

The general consensus is that Microsoft will want to release the current hits on as many platforms as possible. The document says that up to 82% of Activision Blizzard’s 2021 revenue from Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Candy Crush brands.

Last but not least, Microsoft is introducing mobile games that more players can enjoy despite lower development costs. This leads to o. more and more companies are interested in the world of video games, Netflix, Apple, Amazon and Nvidia are mentioned.. In general, Microsoft writes that it is easy for companies to make money, and the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will not affect this in any way.

One thing follows from the existing document. Biggest companies like Google, Meta (Facebook), Amazon and Apple don’t seem to care about the acquisition. The rest of the publishers and developers interviewed (Warner Bros., Bandai Namco, Ubisoft and Riot Games) don’t see this as a big hurdle and don’t think Activision Blizzard has anything unique, and list competing titles that are numerous and successful. Battlefield, PUBG, Apex Legends, or Rainbow Six brands have been identified as competitors to CoD..

Regulators in various countries should make a decision no later than the end of September this year.