We're still with you in covering the news of the Microsoft-Activision merger deal, which has seen many of its regulatory filings, exciting details. But did Sony really, as reported, try to bring the PlayStation Plus service to Xbox and Microsoft turned it down?
In the latest responses provided to the UK regulator CMA by Sony in the acquisition of publisher Activision by Microsoft, “excerpt from the 40-page document” (via tweaktown), more new and exciting details have been revealed that are hard to believe. That Microsoft has not allowed the presence or provision of the PlayStation Plus service in the Xbox ecosystem.
The document's paragraph already shows that Sony tried to present the offer to Microsoft previously, which was rejected, and similarly, Xbox previously offered to Sony to bring its Game Pass service to PlayStation devices. This meant that players on Sony's platforms could access any exclusive Game Pass content... thus circumventing one of the CMA's tort arguments against the Microsoft-Activision merger.
The “textual” translation of the paragraph
Microsoft argues that demand for multi-game subscription services will not shift toward Game Pass because Microsoft will also offer Game Pass on PlayStation (Microsoft § 1.3(g)). But the widespread availability of the leading provider (Game Pass), which now has exclusive and irreplaceable content that is protected from direct and indirect network effects, will make it harder for competing multi-game subscription services to compete.
Microsoft's position that Game Pass being made available on PlayStation would be a panacea for the damage caused by these transaction loops is particularly hollow given that Microsoft does not allow PlayStation Plus to be available on Xbox.
There's no basis for the idea that getting Call of Duty could tip subscription services in favor of Xbox.
Sony has chosen to ban Game Pass from PlayStation, so it is not available on PlayStation.
Neither company has an incentive to offer a competitive service on their platforms, especially Sony with Game Pass, a service that would significantly undercut its PlayStation Plus subscription service with the added value of over 400 titles and daily and historical releases of direct competing games. It's the same reason the Xbox service won't be coming to the Nintendo Switch.
