Xbox Blames PlayStation – ‘Paying To Block Games Outside Game Pass’
Microsoft claims that Sony stands in the way
In the last twenty-four hours, several documents published by Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) have made the rounds of the internet, which concern the process of approving the colossal acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Xbox . Apparently, the move has put PlayStation and Xbox at odds, with Sony claiming the acquisition will harm competition and Microsoft hitting back with a series of claims of its own.
In more detail, Microsoft’s response is of particular interest, in which the company claims that PlayStation is actively trying to put a brake on the further development of Xbox Game Pass , even paying game developers “blocking rights” to never come to the subscription service in Game Pass.
Going into details, Microsoft said:
Considering that exclusives have been at the core of Sony’s strategy to strengthen its position in the video game industry, and that Sony is a leader in the distribution of digital titles, its concern about the possible exclusive availability of Activision’s content on Xbox is at least incoherent.
All it reveals, once again, is Sony’s fear of an innovative business model that offers high-quality, low-cost content to gamers, threatening a leadership position forged over the years by a strategy that has focus on devices and exclusives.
Indeed, Microsoft’s ability to continue expanding Game Pass is hindered by Sony wanting to stop its further development. Sony pays “blocking fees” to prevent developers from adding their content to Game Pass and other competing subscription services.
For the record, Sony was not the only company that was asked to comment on the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by the Brazilian authority. Similar requests were received by other major publishers, such as Ubisoft and Bandai Namco. However, Sony was the only one that raised strong objections, emphasizing that Call of Duty “is a must-have game, a blockbuster, a AAA that has no competitor”.
