Sony’s Jim Ryan Knew From the Start Xbox Won’t Take Call of Duty Away From PlayStation, Claims Microsoft in Latest Statement

Seventeen months ago, Microsoft and Activision jointly announced their record-setting deal worth $68.7 billion. The Xbox maker had proposed to acquire the Call of Duty publisher to offer more video games to more players on various platforms globally.

However, many tech firms, especially PlayStation giant Sony, have objected to this acquisition. Ever since the news on the deal was made public in 2022, SIE chief Jim Ryan has been trying to block it by raising many concerns. Specifically, he’s been saying that after acquiring Activision, Microsoft could make Call of Duty IP exclusive to Xbox. And that PlayStation gamers won’t be able to have the action series on Sony’s consoles. Well it now seems like that was never the case at all!

PlayStation Chief Jim Ryan was never actually worried about losing Call of Duty to Xbox, alleges Microsoft in a statement against FTC’s motion for Preliminary Injunction

On Twitter, Florian Mueller, who’s an app developer and an intellectual property activist, recently shared some astonishing details. They were based on Microsoft’s latest statement to oppose FTC’s motion for preliminary injunction. Florian also writes the FOSSPatents blog regarding patent and copyright-related matters.

In his newest tweets, he revealed that “Jim Ryan was apparently certain that CoD would remain on the PlayStation because of Sony’s market power.” This is what the Xbox maker has alleged in the statement.

To get a better clarity, here’s the section from the document where Microsoft has reportedly claimed Jim Ryan was never really worried about losing CoD.

“First, there is no evidence to support to support the FTC’s central theory that Xbox will take COD away from PlayStation. The FTC does not cite a single document or witness even suggesting this will happen. On the contrary, Jim Ryan, the CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment (‘SIE’) and the chief commercial opponent of this deal, said privately on the day it was announced [REDACTED]“

READ MORE: “Making Call of Duty Franchise Xbox Exclusive Would Be Devastating” – Activision Reveals the Action Series Will Definitely Remain a Multi-Platformer in the Future

In simple words, Jim had a contradictory opinion on this deal when it was announced initially. But now he wants to have it blocked no matter what. All things considered, if this claim turns out to be true, it will heavily make FTC’s argument to block Microsoft‘s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard weaker. That’s because the agency has also emphasized on the point of Call of Duty going away from PlayStation in case the IP goes to Xbox.

Anyone who’s following this entire situation must be having only question in mind: When the PlayStation chief was never even concerned for CoD, why’s he making all the efforts to block the $68.7 billion merger?

What are your thoughts on this massive update coming out of the Xbox maker’s statement? Let us know in the comments down below.

Source: Microsoft/Activision Statement

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