Sony thanks UK government for “protecting gamers” over Call of Duty

The saga of Microsoft looking to acquire Activision Blizzard, and Sony arguing its fears over losing the Call of Duty series on its platforms, has been one heck of a ride in recent weeks. The companies have been tossing comments back and forth, company heads Jim Ryan and Phil Spencer have had plenty of things to say in public, and even governments have been getting involved.

In the latest chapter of this gripping soap opera, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority earlier this month recommended that it begin a second-phase investigation into the potential impact of Microsoft purchasing Activision Blizzard. As part of that announcement, the CMA stated that it had concerns that the acquisition might “result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom.”

Yesterday, Sony offered up the following comment to industry outlet GamesIndustry.biz concerning that development.

“By giving Microsoft control of Activision games like Call of Duty, this deal would have major negative implications for gamers and the future of the gaming industry. We want to guarantee PlayStation gamers continue to have the highest quality gaming experience, and we appreciate the CMA’s focus on protecting gamers.”

But, of course, what would a comment from one side be without a response from the other?

In a following statement to GamesIndustry.biz, a spokesman for Microsoft said that “it makes zero business sense for Microsoft to remove Call of Duty from PlayStation given its market leading console position.”

To get fully caught up on this latest piece of the saga, check out GamesIndustry.biz’s full article on the Competition and Markets Authority’s concerns over the acquisition.

Source: GamesIndustry.biz