The first day of the FTC hearings for Microsoft concluded with some heavy details, as the battle to block the purchase of game development and publishing giant Activision Blizzard. Questions included how Microsoft would treat the property and the concerns of whether popular intellectual properties like Call of Duty would become Xbox exclusives. Microsoft had declared that the brand "lost the console war" with its market share of 16%, compared to Nintendo and Sony.

Among the information revealed, one that PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan brought to light, is his concerns regarding the information they fear Xbox may gain for future console development. Speaking to the US Federal Trade Commission, Ryan stated that Sony will not share ANY details with Activision if Microsoft successfully purchases the company. Many of the statements, which were gathered in April, were redacted from public record, but portions were preserved and presented courtesy of Axios video games reporter Stephen Totilo.

"I believe that [Microsoft]'s incentives - their primary incentive will, at post-acquisition, would be to optimise its overall Xbox business, not the business of Activision," Ryan states.

In an FTC v MS/ABK deposition, PlayStation chief Jim Ryan said that, if deal closes, Sony couldn't tell Activision about its next console

Is then asked about Sony working with Mojang (Minecraft) after MS bought them. Discussion is redacted but Ryan says it supports this concern pic.twitter.com/M86CBm3CcY

— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 21, 2023

There could be some merit in Ryan's statements and concerns, however, these worries seem to not coincide with Microsoft's ownership of Mojang Studios and the cross-platform access of Minecraft. It's also worth noting that nothing specific was brought up from Ryan's position about the access of knowledge being available during Sony's acquisition of Bungie and Destiny. 

With the PS5 launching in 2020, a PlayStation 6 is certainly a long way down the road. Jim Ryan has established in the past that he didn't care about the Activision Blizzard deal in the sense of ownership. He merely doesn't want it to happen, citing the ten year deal Microsoft offered to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation was considered insulting. Denying said deal, and withholding development kits for a future console would deprive Sony's own fans of the franchise. Jim Ryan, seemingly against his own words and principles, is fighting very adamantly to prevent this deal from happening. 

Currently, 37 countries have approved Microsoft's proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard. The UK CMA dissents, and the federal court has a temporary restraining order to put the deal on hold. It's certainly hanging in great balance.

SOURCE: Axios