880°

Sony Calls CMA’s Revised Decision “Surprising, Unprecedented, and Irrational”

Sony calls the CMA's revised decision about the Microsoft-Activision deal's console gaming SLC "surprising, unprecedented, and irrational."

sparky77811d ago

Sony is correct about one thing it is unprecedented. Only one other time in the history of the CMA have they revised their findings and that is also the only example in the history of the CMA where they have accepted behavioural remedies.

CMA has egg on their face right now so it will be very hard for from them not to approve.

ElendilsSorrow811d ago

I feel like the very explicit legal terms MS has been repeatedly offering somewhat guarantee in the short term that COD on PS won't be affected. Obviously can't discount any shadier means MS chooses to employ (and it's very much capable of that), but the whole transaction is being treated with unnecessary vitriol at present

darthv72811d ago

If we look at this objectively... MS has no reason to jeopardize their relationships with any 3rd parties or other platforms. Their whole intention is to be a service provider. it's what they have done with Windows. Being the biggest PC OS in the world allows for them to make $$ off the plethora of users and content creators that release their wares for Windows. It should be no surprise they are doing the same with the Xbox platform. I fully feel they will be a 3rd party by the end of the decade. Now that doesnt mean they wont still have their own platform... it just means they will cater to anyone who is wanting what they offer.

Anyone familiar with SNK knows they had their own Arcade/Home platform but also released games for other platforms through licensing. Sega had their own platform as well but due to mismanagement, they had no choice but to go 3rd party. MS will do the best of both. they will continue to have their own platform(s) while also offering up support to others who are interested. No way would they want to jeopardize the all mighty $$ by sabotaging one version over another.

sinspirit811d ago

@darthv72

Why do you repeatedly ignore concrete counter arguments and still spam the same attempts to sway people's opinions? This is trolling.

darthv72811d ago

@sin... concrete counter arguments...? You mean the same FUD people have been spreading, like spam. THAT is trolling.

This is just stating an objective opinion.

sinspirit811d ago

@darthv72

What is FUD about people stating the obvious counter argument to your statement above? You state they wouldn't jeapardize 3rd party relationships.. Yet, they just did this with Bethesda after they stated their aim was not to take games away from other platforms. They directly removed games from potentially coming to Sony platforms that obviously without any doubt would be on their platforms if not for any intervention.

Are you going to respond and say they can't remove games that never were in development/announced for PS5? This is an extremely shady and disingeniuous argument I've seen on here, like with StarField, and with future Elder Scrolls and FallOut titles that were never technically *in development*, according to public knowledge, for PS5, so they must not have been removed.

811d ago
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agnosticgamer811d ago

You realize the job of the CMA isn’t to protect the market leader in the industry right?

Extermin8or3_810d ago

No it's to protect the market in general and it just so happens ehat NS wants is a monopoly where everyone has to use their services in some form - that is bad for the industry.

agnosticgamer809d ago (Edited 809d ago )

@Extermin8or3_

So if the market share between Sony and Microsoft flips as a result of this purchase. Is it then a monopoly? And if it is considered a monopoly why is it not considered one now? Why do Jim Ryan and Sony fans think Gaming Hell Freezes over if they aren't in the number #1 spot or dominating? Sony has plenty of a market share lead at this point and it will make things tighter and spur greater competition, even if that means Sony responds with a big purchase of their own. COD at a minimum will still be available not only on the PlayStation but Nintendo and a host of cloud streaming sites including Steam for the next decade after the deal goes through. And Ryan running around saying Activision will purposely make an "inferior" version on PlayStation just makes him look like a lunatic.

It's not like everyone is all of a sudden going to have to buy an Xbox to play Call of Duty. I just think Sony and Microsoft are being ridiculous in trying to make themselves seem so hopeless and weak. Especially Sony trying to pretend they don't have an OVER 50% market share of the gaming sector between PlayStation V. Xbox

Bobertt811d ago

They got that Microsoft money that's why they changed their minds.

King_Noctis811d ago

If it is that easy then why didn’t MS just bribe them in the first place and get this deal done a long time ago?

sinspirit810d ago

@King_Noctis

Not to fuel any conspiracies of shadiness, but if it went through with no trouble it would be even more suspicious

Dreisdest810d ago

All of you Sony kids care far too much about this acquisition.

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XiNatsuDragnel811d ago

I think Sony is right where Activision games can be and will be taken away from playstation gamers with this deal being approved easily.

Lifexline811d ago (Edited 811d ago )

Is that not supposed to happen? MS did spend 70 billion dollars what are they supposed to do make activision games PlayStation exclusive? Obviously there will be activision games that will be exclusive with the exception of call of duty and maybe a couple others. That’s what I don’t get of Sony they seem to only care about call of duty which is understandable but what about the other big games.

That’s why they are buying them thought it was obvious guess not. Sony needs to get over it. All signs seem to point to it being approved they need to focus on making sure call of duty releases on parity with the Xbox version at this point.

Rude-ro811d ago

Cod is part of the argument but not the entirety of concern…
Due to the install base of said game, it serves as the catalyst to

811d ago
__SteakDeck__811d ago

@Lifexline They did say “When we all play, we all win”

Lifexline811d ago

@gamereal isn’t that what business is trying to always get more customers??? By taking it away from the competition which is why most businesses offer better services, deals, that sort of thing to persuade customers to come to their business

are they really going to be harmed thought is anyone literally going to die? I feel all these buying sprees they are going on is more about positioning for next gen. So when consumers do decide to buy a co sole they choose Xbox. It’s pretty smart at least that’s what I feel Phil Spencer is trying to do.

blacktiger811d ago

Activision is a public company, I don't think you know what that mean

Extermin8or3_810d ago

Due to the instal base of COD its easiest one to argue but its the example rather than the rule. I've seen them refer to activision owned IP repeatedly in their arguments and not just COD COD is the one the media has discussed most.

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DarXyde811d ago

At this point, it's up to Sony.

Sony would likely be required to allow XGP on PlayStation which I do not think Sony should do. They only really seem concerned with Call of Duty, so the way I see it, Sony needs to refocus their efforts: make your own. It's far easier to compete with a single, very profitable franchise than it is to compete with everything.

Microsoft told PlayStation to make their own. Okay, go for it. Make a better game. Not as hard as it looks because Call of Duty is popular, but I think you can find plenty of objections to it being "the best". When Halo or Destiny drops, you don't really hear much about Call of Duty. It's an afterthought and people seem to rely on it to fill holes.

So Sony has a choice here. They have very talented devs and they can make a far better game than Call of Duty. That's the one thing Microsoft has said in all of this that's believable, so I would say take them up on that. Make a better game, and keep Call of Duty on your platform (outside of XGP) for now. Eventually, Microsoft is going to do what Microsoft does and pull the rug out. Unquestionably and I would put money on that.

So.... Give them what they want. Got no choice, really.

BandarHub811d ago

Cannot wait to see the Irrational ways in which Sony blocks off Japanese games on the Xbox.

Jin_Sakai811d ago

Xbox gamers don’t buy Japanese games anyways hence low sales being one of the reason Square isn’t releasing games on Xbox as of late.

On top of that I keep reading Xbox games saying they can keep their games so there’s another reason you’re not getting more Japanese games.

BandarHub811d ago (Edited 811d ago )

Don't give me that rubbish...PlayStation gamers don't buy games either

Like a Dragon: Ishin!, 35,897 copies sold on PlayStation 4 and 31,439 copies on PlayStation 5, total of 67,336 copies sold.
Octopath Traveler II, 14,422 sales on PlayStation 5 for a total of 68,417 copies sold
Valkyrie Elysium, with over 40,000 units sold in total, over 23,000 of which came on the PS4, and 17,000 on the PS5.
Star Ocean must have been in the 40k range as well.

Those are really bad numbers for a console that claims to have a lot of gamers who play Japanese games.

Back in the day when publishers had to print off disk, there could be a cased made for a reason since they cost money but now since digital games have taken more of the market share of game sales, there are zero reasons why they don't port the games at least digitally. Porting a game cost nothing nowadays and out of the 30 Million Xbox gamers out there they could easily make additional 10k-100k sales
It's funny because Japanese developers in the last few years have been comfortable porting games to Xbox, persona 5, ni no kuni, yakuza, final fantasy, and tales.
But since the FF remake exclusivity deal with Square, they have been reluctant to release any of there games.

With Sony making shady deals with Capcom involving Resident evil Village and not allowing it to be on gamepass. I am positive that the same thing is happening at Square.

Obscure_Observer811d ago (Edited 811d ago )

"Xbox gamers don’t buy Japanese games anyways hence low sales being one of the reason Square isn’t releasing games on Xbox as of late."

SE never said that. It´s just PS fanboy narrative to justify Sony´s dirty shady practices in Japan. If japanese games don´t sell on Xbox, then why pay millions to make it exclusive to PS5 like Sony is doing? Doesn´t make any sense and you know it.

As the investigations advance, more and more global regulators comes to realize that Sony has been doing for a long time, the exact same thing they´re accusing Microsoft of.

This deal will pass thru and Sony will be the only one left begging MS to allow COD to continue on Playstation thanks to their arrogance and dishonesty at the top of an high level of stupidity!

343_Guilty_Spark811d ago

Well that’s not true. They do just not as much as PlayStation but that could be partially explained by Sony being a Japanese console developer and their longer term history/partnerships with Japanese developers such as Namco, Altus, Capcom, Konami, Square Enix etc etc.

Jin_Sakai811d ago

@BandarHub
@Obscure_Observer
@343_Gulity_Spark

You guys can come up with all the excuses you want but the reality is Xbox are the ones losing out on Japanese games.

811d ago
TOTSUKO811d ago

@Bandarhub

FF7 remake? It sold faster than God of war and Spider man it’s first 3 days.

1)The games you listed are multi platform and aren’t blue chip titles even Congress is arguing.

2) The games you listed that are ported to Xbox are. In which you just made an argument for Sony.

3) MS is bad with Japanese developers in general. Their Japanese exclusive with Platinum gets canceled and Shinji Mikami leaves Tango Gameworks like wtf? MS needs to work on themselves

811d ago
King_Noctis811d ago

Games don’t release on Xbox.

N4G: That because Xbox don’t buy gaems

Games don’t release on PS.

N4G: whaaaaattt? What a stupid anti consumer move.

Lmao N4G. Never change.

derek810d ago

@Bandar don't be ridiculous this not a matter for debate. Playstation sells the most 3rd party games, western, Japanese, Asian, of the big 3 by far. It's only gotten worse with the introduction of gamepass.

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MadLad811d ago

The same way they're doing it now lol. Money. Just like how Microsoft is in turn; money.

onisama811d ago

Me who bought ps4 not for gow or horizon or spiderman but for persona 5.... Ok

811d ago
shinoff2183811d ago

Sometimes I think you guys over estimate sonys blocking Japanese games , meanwhile maybe Japanese devs aren't developing for xbox because you guys don't spend money and expect everything on gamepass. Not all of you but clearly the lot of you

811d ago
Sonic1881811d ago

That's one of the major reason's I didn't buy Xbox. 1.They don't have enough Japanese games 2. I already have a high end PC. What's the reason to get an Xbox when I can play their games anyway?

gold_drake811d ago

u mean like xbox wants to do it with Activision?

before u talk, u need to make sure ppl cant correct you. you clearly dont think when u say stuff.

FinalFantasyFanatic810d ago (Edited 810d ago )

Such as???

You're going to need a good logical explanation for that comment, because Xbox owners have proven time and time again that they don't buy those games. Hence why the majority of Japanese devs don't bother creating or porting to the Xbox consoles.

You guys need to stop creating these wild alternate realities.

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MadLad811d ago

Just keep digging that hole lol

neutralgamer1992811d ago

It's ok Sony those of us who understand this know your point and those celebrating this for Ms will soon realize that every action has an equal or great reaction

Zenimax and Activision along with many independent studios like double fine, obsidian etc

Ramifications

Square enix and capcom. Also Sony funding many of these the projects for Konami also means Sony will have major say in Konami franchises

FTC
CMA
Europe

No one can deny Sony's moves now because a very precedent has been set. I guess Xbox gamers like me will be ok with never getting

MGS
Resident evil
Silent hill
Final fantasy
Dragon quest
Street fighter
Etc

Book mark this comment

The week Activision deal is approved Sony themselves will announce their own acquisitions

DEEHULK88811d ago

They also have to go through the regulators and now they are in the US news for their practices, so not so fast.

neutralgamer1992811d ago

Yes and on what basis will they stop Sony? The same logic applies that was being used by Xbox fanboys

FTC will lose in court so again now flood gates are opened. If a multi trillion dollar company can buy the biggest publisher than surely a company worth fraction of that buying the 10 billion dollar Capcom is also fair

In law precedent is a huge thing and with zenimax and now with Activision precedents have been set

Crows90811d ago (Edited 811d ago )

Except if they allow these deals to go through for Xbox they will also have to allow them to go through with Sony. The zenimax acquisition was already huge. This one is just the icing on the cake. In fact I'm more bothered by the zenimax acquisition than this one potentially

DEEHULK88810d ago

Neutralgamer92 Sony is the market leader, so the EU and CMA might not approve and that is the difference.

kingnick811d ago

Unless Capcom royally screw up I don't see them agreeing to be bought by Sony, Sony would not attempt a hostile takeover of Capcom for fear of it failing and Capcom becoming hostile.

neutralgamer1992811d ago

King

Believe it or not Capcom would happily sell. Even in their recent survey they asked would you buy a console for RE being exclusive

811d ago Replies(5)
MadLad811d ago

Capcom has no reason to sell, and I've been hearing how Sony is going to acquire Square Enix for a decade now.
I still say it makes no sense to do so AFTER they sold off most of their big Western IP.
Even so, what would be the difference? Sony already makes sure their big titles don't come to Xbox as is.

derek810d ago (Edited 810d ago )

@Madlad, no reason to sell? Sure. Lol. Sony will do what is necessary to survive and thrive including buying Capcom. If they do, the can pull all if it's games off xbox just like Microsoft is doing with Bethesda and there would be zero argument against them doing so.

Gravesinger_811d ago

As someone who doesn't mind this deal going through, I say to Sony....do your thing lol

811d ago
Asplundh811d ago

It would be fair game. But I don't think Sony would be willing to spend the money for both, those developers together are worth around 10% of Sonys total net worth.

rlow1811d ago

Keep drinking the koolaid.

Tacoboto811d ago

Sony has every right to react how they want and how they've been getting away with. It would be foolish of them to do nothing.

I take issue with your comment suggesting that Xbox gamers don't already know what it's like not getting certain games. Aside from a no-show first party for certain years, Xbox already isn't getting several of those franchises. SF5 was absent the entire last gen. Square Enix is obviously avoiding putting titles people would like to play on Xbox after being very supportive of Game Pass just 2-3 years ago. MGS4 was and remains PS3 exclusive.

I'd rather Sony *not* purchase Square or Capcom (who actually does still actively support Xbox + GP), because that would likely result in them shutting out Nintendo and PC just to retaliate against Microsoft, but it would be fair in the war of business, and the developers can really focus on one set of hardware as games are already insane to make in any reasonable time.

Sonic1881811d ago (Edited 811d ago )

I do agree with you announces their own acquisitions but it won't be publishers. I'm 100% sure it will be just developers

jeromeface811d ago

Sony makes great studios... they don't have to buy them.

Tacoboto810d ago (Edited 810d ago )

Sony purchased Naughty Dog, Insomniac, and Guerilla. Media Molecule another. Bend changed its name and was purchased after the first Syphon Filter way back in 1999/2000

It's all on Wikipedia very easily found, many more than the ones I mentioned - time has certainly grown and polished them under Sony but it's only about a third of their studios that is actually internal/internally-built

TheKingKratos810d ago

Yeah, i agree it's only a matter of time now till we find those studios belong to Sony ... I have this feeling that they already bought a few but they are waiting for this to be over before saying the announcement

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60°

Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition announced for Nintendo Switch 2

We have another announcement from the Little Nightmares universe as Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition was just announced for Nintendo Switch 2. It launches on October 10, 2025. According to today’s announcement, Little Nightmares Enhanced Edition will run at 4K and 60 frames per second.

Read Full Story >>
nintendoeverything.com
Terry_B1d 6h ago

..announced for every System including the Switch 2.

hiawa2321h ago

Definitely getting it for the Switch 2.

50°

Rematch is "chasing credibility" but not realism like rival EA FC

Pocket Tactics sits down with Rematch’s creative director, Pierre Tarno, to discuss why Sloclap moved away from Sifu to chase something new.

Read Full Story >>
pockettactics.com
660°

Microsoft planning “major” Xbox layoffs next week

The cuts are expected to be announced next week.

Microsoft is also planning thousands of job cuts that will impact other parts of it businesses

Read Full Story >>
theverge.com
1d 19h ago Replies(1)
1d 18h ago Replies(1)
Obscure_Observer1d 18h ago

MFs has been beating their chests over great quarterly results and big profits to shareholders while firing people by the thousands just like Sony.

I wonder if at the top of those rumored layoffs they´ll also cancel upcoming or unannounced games while shutting down more studios as well.

1d 18h ago
pwnmaster30001d 18h ago

Always got to throw shade at Sony smh.
Yes we get it,
MS good Sony bad
MS bad Sony is also bad lmao

1d 18h ago
Obscure_Observer1d 18h ago

F* them both!

Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares.

Terry_B1d 17h ago

Yeah..its super annoying.

blacktiger1d 17h ago

He was talking about both. Why you getting offended when he's using both names

pwnmaster30001d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

@Blacktiger

Im not offended , that’s just his formula lol
He can’t help help himself, he needs to bring Sony down when the topic involves MS.
Whether is good news for MS or bad, it some how leads to Sony doing bad lmao.
It’s actually hilarious.

InUrFoxHole1d 11h ago

He's not wrong but im tracking what youre saying. In this case is should just be MS bad. Thats a lot of people fired

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Tacoboto1d 18h ago

"just like Sony"

Gosh you're insufferable, not everything needs to be both-sides'd. Sony's had layoffs, but nothing like what Microsoft has been doing and is continuing to do.

CrimsonWing691d 17h ago (Edited 1d 17h ago )

I mean, no offense, but this is why you’re not some corporate business person running a major corporation. Big profits don’t mean jobs are safe. Do you understand why things like this happen:

Cutting jobs to maintain or increase profitability, especially in underperforming divisions like parts of Xbox like other gaming divisions.

Corporate restructuring and relocating resources for strategic stability in ever changing markets and consumer behaviors.

Investor expectations and optimizing operations to maintain investor confidence. Whatever boosts stock prices and improves future margins.

And there’s many other factors at play. It’s never as simple as business doing well, everyone’s safe. That’s just you not understanding at all how corporations work and have been working since the beginning. This isn’t something that’s specific to Xbox, you can bet your ass Sony and Nintendo do this and if it’s not clear by now, game development is not a stable job nor has it ever been for many. A lot of developers are contractors and guess what happens when a project is done?

Ganif1d 16h ago

Nintendo said they have no plans for layoffs, and you can't seriously claim that the scale of Sony's layoffs most of which involved Bungie which is self managed as even close to the same scale as what Microsoft has done since they purchased Zenimax. And that significantly less layoffs would have happened if those publishers had stayed independent. Keep in mind that much of these layoffs have been due to redundancies specifically related to these buyouts.

CrimsonWing691d 16h ago (Edited 1d 16h ago )

@Ganif

Nintendo:

https://gamerant.com/ninten...

Sony:

https://gamerant.com/playst...

https://techxplore.com/news...

I don’t think it’s realistic to treat Sony’s layoffs as somehow outside the norm for the industry right now. Even if Bungie is self-managed, Sony’s cuts went far beyond that like Naughty Dog, Insomniac, London Studio being shut down completely, and multiple teams across the globe took hits. These weren’t just minor adjustments.

Nintendo, I had to look up and you’re right. They seem to be an outlier, but rest assured at some point it happens. And even then there’s been layoffs, albeit a smaller amount and contractors.

Would fewer layoffs have happened if studios from acquisitions stayed independent? Maybe. But even independents have been hit hard and look at what’s happened with Embracer’s fallout, or smaller devs like Digic, Roll7, or Volition. This isn’t just a “Microsoft problem” or strictly tied to acquisitions; it’s a broader correction happening across the whole industry, and unfortunately, layoffs are a big part of that process right now.

Ganif1d 15h ago

From your article:

"According to reports, Nintendo of America restructured its testing operations, leading to layoffs of about 120 contractors, part of a strategy for global integration.

Nintendo of America, publisher of iconic franchises like Mario and Zelda, is shifting some contractors to full-time roles for better development integration."

Contractors are not employees, and even if you want to count them as that, it's 120 people vs around 7500 since Microsoft purchased Zenimax.

In an era of game industry layoffs, Nintendo is hiring more people
https://automaton-media.com...

Nintendo Announces 10 Percent Pay Raise For Devs Despite Lower Profits
https://kotaku.com/nintendo...

Nintendo CEO’s refusal to layoff staff goes viral following industry-wide cuts
"Satoru Iwata took pay cuts to ensure staff didn’t have to be let go"
https://www.nme.com/news/ga...

And as for Sony you're comparing less than 1000 total jobs to an estimated7500

Has the industry faced layoffs, yes, but that still doesn't account for the mass layoffs due to redundancies that was easily predictable, or that fact that at least 1/3 of Microsoft's layoffs and studio closures happened before the industry downturn.

thorstein1d 14h ago (Edited 1d 14h ago )

Take the L, Crimson.

People hate Nintendo, but Ganif proved why they deserve support.

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-Foxtrot1d 17h ago

It's like banging your head off a wall, he just can't help himself.

Microsoft can do no wrong, Sony sucks at everything and Nintendo is bigged up because it's less hassle than trying to defend Microsoft all the time

What's going to happen when Microsoft finally turn completely third party, then what?

anast1d 17h ago

I enjoy Obscure. Obscure does good work.

crazyCoconuts1d 16h ago

Did you know that the first n4g was designed to be a perfect human world? Where none suffered, where everyone would be happy. It was a disaster. No one would accept the program.

Tacoboto1d 16h ago

I wouldn't be surprised at this point if anast and osbcure were both alts for the Admin.

We know how Obscure especially drums up additional comments and clicks with his spam-worthy remarks that somehow never get moderated

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LoveSpuds1d 13h ago Show
Profchaos1d 13h ago

Thats business present a strong front to your shareholders while your company burns around you.

Keep shareholders happy at all costs andnif not happy keep them numb to the reality of you organisation

Angyobangyo1d 5h ago

" Just for the record, I don´t care about your victim complex crap either. Find someone else who cares. "

Just for the record, you clearly you do if you have to vent this hard.

TheExecutioner1d 1h ago

Basically you think like kids when it come to choose between candy or chocolate.

Sonic18811d ago (Edited 1d ago )

Are you and Anast the same person?

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1d 17h ago
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