LogIn"FTC's claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud don't reflect the realities of the gaming market."
Following Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley's recent verdict, which denied the Federal Trade Commission's preliminary injunction request and ruled in favor of Microsoft, granting the latter the long-awaited approval to acquire Activision Blizzard, Xbox Head Phil Spencer took to Twitter to express his thoughts on the conclusion of the epic FTC vs. Microsoft saga, a case that will undoubtedly be remembered as one of the most significant and momentous in the gaming industry's history.
In his Twitter thread, Spencer expressed gratitude to the court for promptly reaching a decision in their favor and acknowledging that the evidence presented by Microsoft clearly demonstrated the positive impact of the Activision Blizzard deal on the industry as a whole.
Moreover, he addressed the FTC's assertions regarding console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud, highlighting that these claims fail to accurately reflect the current realities of the gaming market.
"We're grateful to the court for swiftly deciding in our favor," commented Spencer. "The evidence showed the Activision Blizzard deal is good for the industry and the FTC's claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud don't reflect the realities of the gaming market.
Since we first announced this deal, our commitment to bringing more games to more people on more devices has only grown. We've signed multiple agreements to make Activision Blizzard's games, Xbox first party games, and Game Pass all available to more players than they are today.
We know that players around the world have been watching this case closely and I'm proud of our efforts to expand player access and choice throughout this journey."
During this case, the gaming community was presented with a unique opportunity to effortlessly gather a wealth of behind-the-scenes insights about various developers and publishers, as throughout the hearings, several significant revelations came to light.
For instance, it was disclosed that the release of Bethesda's highly anticipated game, The Elder Scrolls VI, is not expected until at least 2028. Additionally, it was revealed that Microsoft had plans to acquire Sega, Bungie, IO Interactive, Square Enix, and a multitude of other studios. Furthermore, it was revealed that a staggering one million PlayStation users play Call of Duty only. Microsoft also expressed its belief that Sony is preparing to launch a revised version of the PlayStation 5, tentatively called the PlayStation 5 Slim, sometime in 2023. Just to name a few.
Even though the court's decision is a huge win for Microsoft, the entire deal is still far from over, as back in May, the merger was blocked by the UK Competition and Market Authority, a decision Microsoft still fights to this day.
What do you think about the court's decision? Will Microsoft and Activision Blizzard be able to merge before the year ends? Leave your thoughts in the comments!
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