PlayStation Boss Jim Ryan ‘Pretty Sure’ Call of Duty Will Remain on PlayStation in Bombshell Email
PlayStation head Jim Ryan responded to the news that Microsoft plans to acquire Activision Blizzard in an email. wrote in
The revelations were made as part of ongoing public hearings between Microsoft and attorneys representing the US Federal Trade Commission over the future of the proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The email, seen in court today by IGN reporter Rebecca Valentine, is dated January 20, 2022, two days after Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard, and reveals Ryan’s relaxed attitude toward the acquisition at the time. and refutes Sony’s public concerns. A year and a half later, he appeared in the future of his PlayStation version of Call of Duty.
“This is by no means an Xbox monopoly strategy,” Ryan wrote in an email. “They are thinking bigger than that and have the funds to make a move like this. I spent a good amount of time with both of Phil [Spencer, boss of Xbox] and bobby [Kotick, boss of Activision Blizzard] over the past day. I’m sure we’ll continue to see COD on PS for years to come.
“I’m cooking something delicious. Keep an eye on me. I’m not happy with the status quo and I wish it hadn’t happened, but we’re fine, we’re fine. ”
“
A Microsoft spokesperson told IGN, “Today shows that Sony has always known to keep its promise to keep games on its platform, and that lobbying against the deal has led to the company’s dominance in the market. I made it clear that it was only to protect my position.”
In a September 2022 interview, Ryan said Microsoft’s offer of Call of Duty to remain on PlayStation for three years after Activision’s current deal with Sony ends “is inadequate on many levels.”
In March, Activision Blizzard’s corporate vice president and CCO, Lulu Cheng Messervey, took to Twitter to claim that Ryan commented on Sony’s true motives during a closed-door meeting in Brussels. “In his words, ‘I don’t want a new Call of Duty contract. I just want to stop your merger.'”
The SIE CEO answered the question in Brussels.
In his words:
“I don’t want another Call of Duty contract. I just want to stop your merger.”
— Lulu Chen Mesavey (@lulumesavey) March 8, 2023
This is reportedly in response to Microsoft’s December 2022 proposal to Sony for a 10-year deal that would guarantee long-term access to Call of Duty on PlayStation. Sony has not signed any such deal so far. In a document released today, Microsoft used the proposal to back up its own claims, claiming it would “exceed the expected launch date (2028) of its next-gen console.”
“So if Call of Duty launches on a successor PlayStation console during the term of the deal, it will also launch on that successor. Guaranteed to be provided.”
The moment of truth has arrived for Microsoft and the Xbox brand, with executives heading to federal court to defend the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard against the FTC.
The legal battle between Microsoft and the FTC began last December. announced plans block Big Microsoft acquisition The company behind Call of Duty, Diablo, and Candy Crush. Last week, a federal court in California ruled that: temporary restraining order This is required by the FTC and would essentially block a deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard for the time being.
At this week’s trial, the FTC will attempt to impose preliminary injunctions against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. If successful, it means Microsoft and Activision Blizzard cannot complete the acquisition while the FTC’s review of the deal for US antitrust compliance is ongoing.
Call of Duty’s future is one of the key points of contention, and while Microsoft struggles to keep releasing shooters on PlayStation if it buys Activision Blizzard, the FTC shows why not and
IGN has comprehensive coverage of Microsoft’s battle over the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.pay attention to us Previous news page for updates.
Wesley is IGN’s UK news editor. Find @wyp100 on Twitter. You can reach Wesley at: wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially wyp100@proton.me.
