Game news Activision Blizzard Microsoft: the CEO of Playstation tries everything to be heard!
The soap opera concerning the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft continues again and again. While the major regulatory authorities around the world must examine this takeover closely, Jim Ryan, current CEO of Playstation, is trying to convince the various international Commissions to oppose the transaction.
A game-changing takeover
The takeover of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft has shaken many people in the video game sphere, starting with Playstation CEO Jim Ryan who fears the instant growth of his direct competitor. The most important concern would be for Sony to lose the Call of Duty license, which remains undefeated each year at the top of sales on PS5 and PS4 and which could, if the transaction is validated, become exclusive to the Microsoft ecosystem.
Without really opposing this takeover, Jim Ryan seeks above all to obtain an agreement from Microsoft which would perpetuate the publication of Call of Duty software on Playstation consoles. According to the CEO, Microsoft would commit only for three years currently, a situation that he strongly dislikes. Since then, Phil Spencer and Jim Ryan have answered each other, directly or indirectly, on the subject and are at war intermittently. Last outing to date, this time it was Jim Ryan who reportedly went to the European Commission in Brussels to express his concerns about this takeover.
Jim Ryan meets the European Commission
According Deal Reporter, Jim Ryan reportedly traveled to Brussels on September 8 to meet with members of the European Commission to share his concerns about the Activision-Blizzard takeover. The major authorities around the world are currently studying the file, in order to validate it or not. Also according to Deal Reporter, Google would also have met the European Commission to share the same fears perceived by Jim Ryan.
Recently, the Australian and New Zealand authorities had announced to postpone the date of their verdict in order to examine the takeover in more detail. Regarding the European Commission, the latter has established an initial deadline of November 8. Either it validates the file, or it decides to launch a second examination phase. We will therefore know more in the following months.
