Activision Blizzard acquisition is ‘in the best interest of gamers’, says Xbox boss
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According to Head of Xbox Phil Spencer,Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of ActivisionBlizzardis a move that intends to serve gamers by keeping their needs firmly in sight.
Microsoft’sproposed merger with triple-A gaming studio Activision Blizzardhas seen the company battling concerns that the merger would do more harm to the gaming industry than good. But, in an interview for the podcastSecond Request, Spencer explained that, despite scrutiny from regulatory bodies, he believes that Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of theCall of Dutypublisher will ultimately benefit gamers if allowed to go ahead.
“From the beginning of me being in this role, thinking about how we’re going to grow Xbox and what our role is in gaming, we’ve tried to put the gamer at the center of all our decisions,” Spencer said. “To me, it seems the regulator [opposing the merger] is looking out for what’s best for consumers, but this deal is in the best interest of gamers.”
Among the fears of US and European regulators alike are complaints that Microsoft would actively impede their rivals’ business, preventingSonyor Nintendo console users from accessing Activision flagship titles by turning them into Xbox exclusives.
Paved with good intentions
One of the biggest questions surrounding the proposed merger with Activision Blizzard arose after itacquired Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMaxin 2021: whether Microsoft will end uptaking major titles away from other consoles. In the interview with Second Request, Spencer used the ZeniMax merger as an example of how Microsoft has no intention of doing this with Activision Blizzard titles.
“All of the ZeniMax games we said would ship onPS5, we have,” he said, referencing how Microsoft has continued to support cross-platform updates for Elder Scrolls Online andFallout76. “There’s not a single game from ZeniMax that we’ve had pulled from PlayStation.”
Spencer also commented on how Microsoft has respected agreements made between ZeniMax and its competitors pre-purchase, suggesting that Microsoft can be trusted to stay true to its word. “The first two games we shipped from ZeniMax [after the merger] were actually PS5 exclusives, and those are just contractual. Sony signed a deal to exclude those games from Xbox, and we’ve lived up to [that commitment].”
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That being said, we know that upcoming Bethesda-made games such asStarfieldwill be Xbox-exclusive titles. This means they will ship only to Xbox and PC platforms. Spencer reiterated that first-party games are nothing new, stating that “exclusives are part of the history of how people sell consoles".
His comments were geared more toward alleviating fears that Microsoft would restrict core Activision titles to Xbox consoles alone, should the merger pass. “How we want to grow and nurture those [flagship] franchises, pulling a game like Call of Duty off the largest console platform is totally at odds with all of that.”
In the interview, Spencer emphasized Xbox’s commitment to providing a consistent, fun, and varied experience for its cross-platform gamers. “[Xbox Game Pass] allows them to play great games on the devices they want to play on,” he said, later commenting on the major differences between Xbox and PlayStation being evidenced by their shipping day-one releases directly to PC and Xbox players via Game Pass.
Spencer also hinted at his desire to access the mobile gaming scene. This is, consequently, one of the core reasons Microsoft might wish to purchase Activision: it would allow Xbox to further immerse itself in the mobile games space. “The place we’re completely irrelevant is on the largest platform, [which is] mobile,” Spencer said, suggesting that should the Microsoft/Activision merger go through, this would be something Microsoft would pursue.
You’ve been served
Despite Spencer’s efforts to push the merger as a good thing, since the podcast has aired the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hasfiled a complaint in an effort to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Theredacted complaintoutlines the FTC’s concerns that Microsoft would use the merger as a means to impact the markets and its competitors negatively. Despite Spencer’s comments about Xbox exclusives being “nothing new”, the FTC’s complaint highlights the regulatory body’s concern that Microsoft went back on assurances made to the European Commission (EC) during an antitrust hearing. During the hearing, the company claimed it would not withhold ZeniMax games from rival consoles, however, bothStarfieldand Redfall are set to be Xbox console exclusives.
Although this lawsuit could threaten the proposed merger and end up blocking it, Microsoft will get to plead its case before a judge.
Jasmine is a freelance writer and podcaster based in the UK. Whether it’s a Sims 4 lore deep-dive or a guide to securing kills in Dead By Daylight, her work is featured on TheGamer as well as the door of her mother’s fridge. When she’s not aggressively championing the Oxford comma on Twitter, you can find her scoping out the local music scene or buying gaudy Halloween decorations all year round.
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