The months go by and the purchase of Activision Blizzard still gives a lot to talk about. As Microsoft and Xbox prepare to talk with the UK CMA, Phil Spencer discussed the acquisition in a recent interview with British outlet The Times.
During the talk, the head of Xbox announced that he had contacted Kenichiro Yoshida, CEO of Sony, to discuss the purchase in January 2021. Although he claims that he had a “very cordial” conversation with the executive, it is known that the Japanese company is against the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The reason the purchase is still up in the air is due to extensive investigations by various regulators, who fear the acquisition will harm the industry and, consequently, consumers. Phil Spencer doesn’t understand why there are so many concerns.
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“The competition is us, who try to make ourselves stronger. I don’t understand how better competition on consoles is in any way harmful to consumers. For me, for us, Sony and Nintendo to do well in the console market, with our strengths and capabilities, gives consumers more choice,” added Phil Spencer.
In addition, the head of Xbox expressed his concerns that in the video game industry there are only “2 manufacturers” that dominate the market as happens in cell phones.
“For most of my career at Xbox, when I have met with government regulators, there is a lack of knowledge about the games industry. I have enjoyed spending time with them and, in some cases, helping to educate them. I think that for many of the regulators it is the first time that they have analyzed this industry, ”said the Xbox executive.
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What if the Activision Blizzard deal doesn’t go through? Phil Spencer has it clear
With close to $70 billion on the table, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is one of the largest in history. However, and according to the head of Xbox, the brand will still exist if an agreement is not reached.
“This is an important acquisition for us. It is not a key piece in the long term: Xbox will still exist if this agreement does not take place, ”explained the manager.
At the end of 2022, Phil Spencer hinted that the true objectives of this purchase is to grow in the mobile device market. “In a place where if we don’t gain relevance as a gaming brand, the business will become unsustainable for any of us over time,” he said in November.
In its meeting with the European Commission, Microsoft played its cards right and announced deals with Nintendo and NVIDIA. However, it still has to face regulators in the UK (CMA) and the US (FTC).
But tell us, do you agree with Phil Spencer’s statements? Let us read you in the comments.
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