While PlayStation 5’s release is still fresh in gamers’ minds, speculation is already rife concerning the PlayStation 6’s release. Recent revelations about Microsoft’s attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard have shed some light on Sony’s plans for the PS6, including the expected release date and possible limitations on game titles.
As first reported by PlayStation Lifestyle, the 22-page document holds a lot of information.
In this article, we’ll explore everything we know so far about the PS6 release date, Microsoft’s deal, and how it might affect the gaming industry as a whole.
What’s the Release Date for PS6?
As per the official documents provided to UK regulators reviewing Microsoft’s attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the exact release date for PS6 is redacted due to corporate reasons.
However, it has been confirmed that Sony plans to release the console after 2027.
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Why Did Sony Have To Give Documents to Microsoft?
Sony was subpoenaed by UK regulators reviewing Microsoft’s future acquisition of Activision Blizzard to provide trade secrets and company documents. This was likely part of the regulatory review process to determine whether the acquisition would violate any antitrust or competition laws.
Sony’s documents could provide valuable information to the regulators to evaluate the acquisition as a significant player in the gaming industry and a competitor of Microsoft.
Sony had to comply with the subpoena and provide the requested documents to the regulators as part of the regulatory review process.
Why Didn’t Sony Do the Deal With Microsoft?
Sony did not do the deal with Microsoft for the acquisition of Activision Blizzard because they opposed the acquisition from the start. Sony feared that if Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard, it would gain a monopoly in the gaming industry.
Sony has been a dominant player in the gaming hardware market for nearly two decades, and they heavily invested in exclusive gaming during the PS3 era. As a result, they urged gamers to buy PlayStation consoles if they wanted to play their games.
Sony is also concerned about the potential loss of access to Activision Blizzard titles, including Call of Duty, one of the most played games on the PlayStation.
Is It Possible That Microsoft May Offer Sony Another Deal?
Microsoft could always offer Sony another deal in the future. However, given the competitive nature of the gaming industry, it may be unlikely.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard will give the company a significant advantage in the industry, and it is unlikely that it would willingly give up that advantage by making deals with its biggest competitor. Additionally, Sony has been actively working to create exclusive content for their own consoles, indicating that they are less interested in partnerships with other companies.
While it is possible that Microsoft and Sony could collaborate on certain projects, it is unclear if another major deal between the two companies is likely to happen soon.
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PlayStation 6 FAQs
Will PS6 have Call of Duty?
According to the same official documents provided to UK regulators, by the time Sony launches the PS6, it would lose access to Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard titles.
This is because Microsoft offered to make Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard games available on PlayStation only until 2027, which is significantly shorter than what Microsoft offered to Nintendo and Nvidia. Therefore, it’s unclear if Call of Duty or other Activision Blizzard titles will be available on the PS6.
What features will the PlayStation 6 have?
The official documents provided to UK regulators reviewing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard do not reveal any specific features of the PS6.
The documents only confirm that Sony plans to release the PS6 after 2027, and by the time they launch the console, they will lose access to Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard titles.
Other than that, there is no information about the console’s specifications or features in the documents that were made public.
Did the documents reveal any information on the PS6?
The documents related to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard that was made public by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority did not reveal any detailed information on the features or specifications of the PlayStation 6.
However, they confirmed that Sony plans to release the next-gen console sometime after 2027. The documents also indicated that Sony would lose access to Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard titles when it launches the PlayStation 6, assuming the acquisition went through.
This suggests that Sony may face challenges in remaining competitive in the gaming industry in the coming years.