Microsoft: “Blizzard games are not a ‘must have’ nor are they unique”

In January 2022, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard announced that Microsoft, the game developer from Irvine will buy for almost 70 billion dollars. Of course, this immediately led to discussions as to whether Microsoft would not have a preponderance or even a monopoly on the video game market. The whole thing can last until the summer of 2023.

The alleged distortion of competition is still under scrutiny by various official bodies, such as recently by the New Zealand Commerce Commission. A report between Microsoft and the New Zealand Economic Commission shows how Microsoft officials want to take the wind out of the sails of New Zealand officials.

Activision Blizzard is not a competitor in the video game market because…

In which publicly available report Microsoft wants to make the monopoly position appear harmless by buying Activision Blizzard in order to be able to smash the criticism and close the deal. However, Microsoft finds words that act like a punch in the stomach for Activision Blizzard.

“Specifically, with respect to Activision Blizzard video games, there is nothing unique about the video games developed and published by Activision Blizzard that is a ‘must have’ for rival PC and console video game distributors that could give rise to a foreclosure concern.”

“Specifically with respect to Activision Blizzard’s video games, there is nothing unique about the video games developed and published by Activision Blizzard that is a “must have” for competing PC and console video game retailers that raises concerns about foreclosure could”.

Call of Duty also has a kind of unique selling proposition in the gaming market. That Activision Blizzard does not produce “must-have games” is a bold thesis.

Source: Activision




Ouch. In an attempt to make Activision Blizzard’s games look smaller than they really are, Microsoft has stabbed ATVI fans in the heart with this report. Especially since the statement is not really true. Sure, Blizzard, for example, hasn’t released a new title that wasn’t a sequel or a remake for a very long time. But if you just look at Blizzard games like World of Warcraft or Hearthstone, these two video games alone have a unique selling point in their genres and are (possibly still) the most successful in their segment.

Sony Responds to Saying Activision Blizzard Can’t Make ‘Must-Have Games’

Microsoft: “Blizzard doesn’t make ‘must-have games’ and is therefore not a competitor” (1)

Source: Sony




The biggest sufferer in the ATVI-Microsoft deal could be Sony. With the Playstation, they compete directly with Microsoft’s console (Xbox), which would add an interesting portfolio of games with the purchase of Activision Blizzard and further strengthen the Xbox Game Pass.

On the statements of Microsoft answered Sony: “Sony believes that no developer can create a franchise that can compete with Activision’s Call of Duty that stands out as a game category in its own right. That’s why they believe that Call of Duty is so popular that it influences users’ choice of console. In fact, their network of loyal users is so ingrained that even if a competitor had the budget to develop a similar product, it would not be able to create a rival.”