More and more information from the UK authority’s scrutiny of Xbox’s ActiBlizz deal is starting to trickle out, and this drop is a juicy one. Again via The Verge’s Tom Warren, Microsoft has discussed Game Pass and the fact that the service could have been on PlayStation, had Sony wanted it.
In defending its Activision Blizzard deal, Microsoft has said that Sony blocked any of its attempts to get Xbox Game Pass onto PlayStation platforms, showcasing Sony’s stance in reducing competition.
“Sony has chosen to block Game Pass from PlayStation, so it is not available on PlayStation. As all games that are available on Game Pass are also available to purchase, PlayStation gamers will continue to have the ability to buy Call of Duty on PlayStation. And doing so will still cost less than the cost of switching by buying a new Xbox console.”
Xbox is also sticking up for itself by telling the UK CMA that it intends to add all the ActiBlizz games it possibly can to Xbox Game Pass, increasing the value of its subscription and giving players on Game Pass platforms another consumer-friendly option to play Activision titles. Microsoft says Sony has decided not to take such an open approach with PS Plus.
“Again, this increased competition has not been welcomed by the market leader Sony, which has elected to protect its revenues from sales of newly released games, rather than offer gamers the choice of accessing them via its subscription, PlayStation Plus.”
This all originates from the same UK CMA document that earlier revealed Sony’s continued concerns with the Call of Duty franchise, and Microsoft’s fighting stance against the CMA’s Phase 2 analysis of the Activision Blizzard deal. We’re not sure this battle will ever end!
What do you make of these Game Pass comments? Should Sony have welcomed the service? Let us know your thoughts.
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