Google News New Zealand doesn't like Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard either
by FARUK IMAMOVIC | VIEW 848
Sony's pressure on market regulators is paying off. At least it seems so because first, the United Kingdom decided not to approve Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard in the first stage of the decision, after which the regulatory body in New Zealand postponed the decision.
According to the website of the New Zealand government, the decision was first scheduled for last Friday, September 2, so it was postponed until today, and now the final decision has been extended to November. In large acquisitions like this, which border on monopoly and have a serious potential to threaten market competition, in let's call them that - smaller countries, the practice is to wait for the decisions of large economies such as the USA, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the like.
The New Zealand government, obviously in touch with other countries, wisely decided not to rush to judgment.
Xbox's offering for Call of Duty is inadequate on many levels
Xbox boss Phil Spencer immediately after the verdict addressed the biggest reason for the rejection - Call of Duty.
For years, PR built on attitudes such as that exclusives are killing gaming, then after the purchase of Activision, he repeated on several occasions that Call Of Duty would remain on PlayStation, only to tell Sony in a private letter that it would only remain with him for "a few years".
Now the head of PlayStation, Jim Ryan, has come forward, saying in a statement to GamesIndustry.biz that Microsoft's offer for Call of Duty was "inadequate". And it's actually not entirely clear how long the previously signed contract between Sony and Activision lasts.
Rumor has it that the deal is valid for the next three Call of Duty games, with Modern Warfare 2 being the first in October. Not long after it, Warzone 2 comes out, which we are not sure if it counts in that quota. Instead of Microsoft doing what it has been advocating for the last 8 years, which is not to make the series that is by far the best-selling in the gaming industry year after year, Phil Spencer will allow only three more Call of Duty games on a competing platform.
So, for the next 5-6 years. The regulatory bodies don't like that either, because Microsoft would significantly influence the ability to compete in the market competition with huge money, unimaginable to competitors, which creates all the prerequisites for a monopoly.
It is clear from the whole situation that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will not be approved without a direct agreement with Sony. And while politicians in the US informally disapproved of the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and the United Kingdom said NO in the first phase, we are still waiting for at least the smallest sign from the European Union.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer is confident that he can convince them all that the purchase of one of the biggest publishers in the world will not hurt others, despite the plan to remove his games from competing platforms, including Call of Duty as the world's largest gaming franchise.