“Microsoft already controls one of the industry’s most popular and largest video game ecosystems. The proposed acquisition would give Microsoft an unrivaled position in the gaming industry, leaving it with the greatest number of must-have games and iconic franchises.” claimed the lawsuit filed against Microsoft Activision Merger specifically on Xbox.
On December 20, 2022, a group of ten petitioners who were playing several Activision-Blizzard games on varying platforms filed an antitrust case in San Francisco against Microsoft Activision Merger. This was due to the gamers’ claim that Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition will give them an unparalleled spot in the gaming sector and they are seeking to put a stop to it.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is defending the potential acquisition. A representative said, “This deal will expand competition and create more opportunities for gamers and game developers as we seek to bring more games to more people”
Microsoft, owner of the Xbox console, streaming service, and a dominant operating system worldwide, could join Activision – developer of Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Candy Crush – if the Microsoft Activision Merger deal is concluded.
Even though Microsoft’s representative said, “Microsoft has currently made public promises to keep Activision Blizzard’s game content, including Call of Duty available on platforms owned and developed by competitors, like Sony’s PlayStation console, but their past history implies these promises are illusory.” Gamers fear that with this deal, Microsoft could make these games/ titles exclusive to Xbox, thus nullifying any competition in the industry. According to the complaint, Microsoft might likewise block access to Activision material on competing for operating systems. Activision now creates all of its games for Mac in addition to Windows, but this may change in the future. In spite of promising European competition regulators that it wouldn’t restrict ZeniMax games on competitor consoles, Microsoft made one of its most well-known games, Starfield, exclusive to Xbox and Windows after purchasing ZeniMax Media in 2020.
Also Read: How to Delete Activision Account Permanently
Following the accusation, Brad Smith twitted, “We continue to believe that our deal to acquire Activision Blizzard will expand competition and create more opportunities for gamers and game developers.” Continuing this he wrote, “We have been committed since Day One to addressing competition concerns, including by offering earlier this week proposed concessions to the FTC. While we believe in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to present it in court.”
In a letter posted to Activision Blizzard’s website, CEO Bobby Kotick addressed the staff, “This sounds alarming, so I want to reinforce my confidence that this deal will close. The allegation that this deal is anti-competitive doesn’t align with the facts, and we believe we’ll win this challenge.”
Joe Biden’s promise to take a stronger stance against monopolies has generated much attention in the legal arena, making this one of the most prominent cases.
