Sony hasn’t made it a secret that it thinks ill of the Microsoft Activision deal, but a new statement from Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick suggests Sony Interactive Entertainment is simply trying to sabotage it. According to the Video Games Chronicle (citing a report from The Financial Times), Kotick says Sony has “suddenly stopped talking to anyone at Microsoft. I think this is all Sony just trying to sabotage the transaction.”
Kotick’s claim comes not long after the UK’s Competition Market Authority said it believes the deal could actually harm UK consumers. In a recent press release, the CMA stated that if the acquisition were to go through, it could “result in higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation for UK gamers.” The statement issued by the CMA places another roadblock in front of Microsoft’s attempts to move forward and finalize the acquisition. As this stance isn’t exactly going to help regulators feel more comfortable about the deal.
Kotick has further said that any notion Microsoft wouldn’t support PlayStation is “absurd.” Of course, this is the same sentiment issued by Xbox CEO Phil Spencer. Who has repeatedly told regulators and Sony that Microsoft and Xbox would continue to support the PlayStation platform.
Is Sony really trying to sabotage the Microsoft Activision deal?
Kotick certainly thinks so. But realistically, this isn’t something that’s been proven or confirmed. Kotick says that Sony had “suddenly stopped talking to anyone at Microsoft.” But Sony says it’s still in contact with the company, though it wouldn’t say anything beyond that. As the conversations are private.
While Sony may or may not be trying to actively sabotage the transaction, it’s clearly not rooting for it to go through. And would love nothing more than for it to die. Sony has put forth numerous statements about how the acquisition would be worse for gamers if approved. Despite the hurdles, Kotick is confident that the acquisition will gain approval by this Summer.