Microsoft wants to take over game developer Activision Blizzard, but not everyone is keen on it. In addition to competitor Sony and various competitor watchdogs, gamers are now also angry about the deal.
The acquisition was announced in January. Xbox maker Microsoft was willing to pay $69 billion (more than €65 billion) for Activision Blizzard. That developer is known for, among other things, the popular shooting game call of Duty.
PlayStation maker Sony, Microsoft’s biggest competitor in the field of game consoles, does not like the takeover. Microsoft promised call of Duty due out for PlayStation at least in the next three years, but Sony called that proposal “inadequate in many areas”.
A group of American players also went to court. In their complaint, they argue that the acquisition gives Microsoft “tremendous power in the computer gaming industry.” This could also hinder the company’s competitors.
In the lawsuit, gamers say they fear Microsoft may limit the amount of games they release. They also fear that consumers’ freedom of choice may be limited by the acquisition.
Takeover concerns among regulators
Whether the takeover will go through remains to be seen. US competition watchdog FTC has already said it wants to block the deal. The regulator fears the tech giant will limit competition and says Microsoft has “both the opportunity and the reason” to do so.
For example, the price of Activision games or their quality on other game consoles may change. The games or expansion sets could also become available to PlayStation gamers later, for example, the FTC says.
The United States isn’t the only one concerned about the planned takeover. Regulators in the European Union and the United Kingdom have also not yet approved the acquisition and are still examining the consequences for the gaming market.
Workplace misconduct at game developer
Activision Blizzard was already in the news due to workplace discrimination and sexism. In the summer of 2021, the company reportedly laid off dozens of employees and fined 40 other employees for inappropriate behavior.
At the time, Microsoft did not directly address the issue in its acquisition notice. The company said that inclusiveness matters. “We believe creative success and independence go hand-in-hand with treating every person equally and with respect. We hold all teams and leaders to this commitment,” Microsoft said previously.
