Microsoft has shared that Sony has "chosen to block" the release of its Xbox Game Pass subscription on PlayStation platforms. The ongoing acquisition of Activision Blizzard has led to a conflict between the two companies, as PlayStation argues that Call of Duty on Xbox Game Pass would prove anticompetitive. Microsoft, in a response offered through the United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority, says that there's more to the situation than may seem.
As shared by Tom Warren on Twitter, Microsoft is responding to PlayStation's argument that an acquisition of the Call of Duty franchise would "tip" subscription services in Xbox's favor. In other words, offering Call of Duty games through Xbox Game Pass and not other subscription services would be an anti-competitive act that would irreparably harm Sony's own efforts. Microsoft has several arguments against Sony's point, many revolving around Sony's own approach to gaming subscription services.
To start, Microsoft implies that it tried to offer Xbox Game Pass on PlayStation. This would, assumedly, make clear that it is not trying to make Call of Duty exclusively available to any one hardware platform through its subscription purchase. If Sony is saying the exclusivity would harm its own consoles, Microsoft is saying it's willing to put Xbox Game Pass on them, and PlayStation gamers could access Call of Duty that way. Sony, however, "blocked" Xbox Game Pass on PlayStation.
Microsoft also argues that Sony is exaggerating its own investment in game subscription services. It says that Sony's own priority, which has proven successful given its leadership in the market, has been to "protect its revenues from sales of newly released games." Sony could, says Microsoft, increase the competitiveness of its PlayStation Plus subscription service by offering a variety of games it doesn't currently have. It chooses not to, showing Sony's prior lack of interest in competing in this market.
While Microsoft is trying to undercut Sony's argument from multiple angles, there's also a tone to it that really cuts to the heart of the issue. That issue is that Sony's priority here isn't fairness or whether Microsoft is becoming anti-competitive at all. It's that Sony thinks slowing down or preventing this acquisition is good for PlayStation.
It's unclear at this point whether or not PlayStation's efforts will have any significant consequences for Microsoft. The Activision Blizzard acquisition is being looked at closely both in the EU and the UK, but that should be expected for any $69 billion acquisition. Even without further hurdles placed in its way, though, Microsoft's acquisition will likely be wrapped up much later than it would have liked.
