Sony is concerned that if Microsoft owns Call of Duty, players may switch to the Xbox

Around the world, regulatory organizations are presently examining Microsoft‘s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and in Brazil, Sony’s official response to that government’s inquiries has been made public.

In those documents, Sony asserts that it will have the ability to sway users’ console decisions once Microsoft has acquired the Call of Duty brand.

Sony and Call of Duty

The company said via a VGC translation that a 2019 study found that Call of Duty has an unfathomable impact on entertainment in general. The brand joined entertainment heavyweights like Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings as the only video game IP to crack the top 10 of all brands among enthusiasts.

Moreover, even if a rival had the resources to create a comparable product, it would not be able to compete with Call of Duty since the game is so well-liked that it influences customers’ console preferences.

According to Sony, one of the reasons the Call of Duty franchise is an annual best-seller is due to Activision’s unmatched amount of investment in each game, which, together with a committed workforce dispersed over numerous dedicated studios, is unmatched. Due to its high level of success, Call of Duty has grown into a hugely lucrative franchise with a devoted fan base and a well-known brand worldwide.

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard

Microsoft stated in February that it would keep creating Activision properties for competing consoles and that it would support Call of Duty on PlayStation “beyond the existing deal” and into the future.

In the past, Microsoft had affirmed that it will uphold any existing publishing contracts, including those for Modern Warfare 2 in 2022, Call of Duty: Warzone 2, and a new Call of Duty core release in late 2023.

The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, which was first disclosed in January 2022, is anticipated to be completed by June 2023, with the FTC’s US clearance probably arriving later this month. Beyond that US regulatory body, additional governmental oversight organizations including the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority must still approve the deal.

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