Sony claimed that buying Activision through Microsoft would have "major negative implications for gamers", and supported an investigation into Activision's Xbox deal, which was led by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
In a statement made to GamesIndustry, Sony stated that it was very pleased to receive the news of the announcement of the investigation. The responsible government agency began a new phase of investigation on September 1 of this year, after filing in July about its anti-competitive concerns.
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The points made by the CMA in the full statement specifically highlight the importance of the Call of Duty game. "By offering Microsoft control of Activision games, or Call of Duty, this deal could have major negative implications for gamers and the future of the games industry," Sony told GamesIndustry. "We want to ensure that PlayStation players continue to enjoy a high-quality gaming experience, and we appreciate the CMA's focus on protecting players."
That last line echoes PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan's early September thoughts. He is directing an Xbox bid to keep Call of Duty within the PlayStation for the next three years and said the deal is "inadequate on many levels" and that "Microsoft's proposal to Sony undermines the principal."
GamesIndustry also received a statement from Microsoft regarding the entries PlayStation made regarding Call of Duty exclusivity. "It makes no sense for Microsoft to remove Call of Duty from the PlayStation base in its position as a leader in the console market," said Microsoft, which also defended repeated promises from Xbox boss Phil Spencer and Microsoft chairman, Brad Smith.
Microsoft's takeover of Sony from Activision resulted in $70 billion worth of damage. And they still have to deal with a lot of bureaucracy, and several valuable IPs from the line, both Xbox and PlayStation.
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