One of the biggest deals in the history of the games industry did not please the authorities at all. the purchase of Activision Blizzard for the Microsoft for US$ 69 billion was questioned by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC)🇧🇷 In response, the Xbox company said the deal would not harm but benefit gamers and other companies.
Microsoft says the acquisition, announced in January 2022, will allow consumers to access high-quality content in more ways and at lower prices.
In a 37-page document, the company says it has a share of the console market of just 16% of 2021 sales, against 34% for Sony and 50% for Nintendo.
In exclusive titles for each platform, the corresponding portion would be even smaller, with 10% for Xbox, 50% for PlayStation and 40% for Switch.
Microsoft assures the FTC that it will not limit the availability of key Activision Blizzard games to rival platforms. She promises to do the opposite and bring them to the Nintendo Switch.
In the field of games for mobile platforms, Microsoft claims that its importance is minimal: only 0.3% of market revenues in 2021. Even with the purchase of Activision Blizzard, the growth would be small: it has 4% of the market.
“The acquisition of a single game by a console manufacturer is not likely to have a major impact in a highly competitive industry, particularly when the manufacturer has made it clear that it will not restrict the game,” Microsoft says in the document.
In December, Microsoft chairman Brad Smith said the company had offered to sign a compromise. Thus, it would be obliged to release the games in the series call of duty to competitors including Sony.
Phil Spencer, head of the Xbox division, promises that the franchise will be available on PlayStation as long as the platform exists.
Authorities want to stop business
The FTC fears the acquisition will allow Microsoft to gain an advantage over Xbox competitors and rapidly grow its content subscription and cloud gaming businesses. In December, the agency sued Microsoft to stop the purchase.
There are also fears that games developed by Activision Blizzard will end up stuck with Xbox and PCs. As much as Microsoft denies it, this is already happening: The Elder Scrolls VI will only be available on their platforms, and Starfield will be exclusive.
https://tecnoblog.net/noticias/2022/12/23/microsoft-diz-a-autoridades-que-compra-da-activision-sera-boa-para-gamers/