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A few hours ago, the CMA published a extension to Microsoft’s allegations, through which it responds to those previously formulated by the CMA itself. Allegations that, although they do not contribute anything new from the point of view of information and are focused on reiterating what Microsoft has been saying for some time, could be indicative that the CMA is changing its attitude regarding the purchase of Activision Blizzard. And it is that, as can be seen from the document itself, the allegations revolve solely around the solutions that the CMA proposed at the time, abandoning the options of blocking the purchase or the separation of Call of Duty from Activision Blizzard.
But not only that, but, in the document, Microsoft dismantles many of the complaints made by both the CMA and Sony, the main opponent of the purchase. Mainly, Microsoft focuses on responding to the concerns of the CMA in three fields: consoles, the cloud and the reinforcement measures, dismantling the complaints that Sony had previously raised. Although the document is largely redacted, Microsoft’s allegations are pretty clear.
Microsoft refuses to bring Call of Duty to PlayStation with a version that “improves” the Xbox:
Primarily, Microsoft remains committed to bring Call of Duty to PlayStation with the same qualities as on Xbox. And this because, not doing so, would harm their sales in Sony systems. However, he points out that it has not been possible to justify that this parity obligation goes further, forcing Microsoft to create a version of Call of Duty on PlayStation that has more additions than those of Xbox. The parity will be maintained both in additions, as in versions, prices and the possibility of taking the game to PlayStation subscription services.
The 10-year offer for Call of Duty is enough for Sony to look for an alternative, Microsoft says
we are xbox.com
In addition, the agreement will not pose any jeopardy to what confidential information Microsoft obtains from Sony and how it can handle it. And it is that, as Microsoft shows, the company already knows this information, since games like Minecfrat, Deathloop or Ghostwire: Tokyo are either permanently present on PlayStation or were temporarily present.
“The parties have stressed, in particular, that there is no basis in the interim remedies to justify an obligation that goes ‘beyond parity’, under which Microsoft is required to develop a PlayStation version of Call of Duty that have more additions than the Xbox. On the contrary: the protection mechanisms offered in the interim solutions, which are intended to be solved, focus on the possibility of bringing Call of Duty titles to PlayStation with, for example, “worse additions” and “degraded graphic quality” in the versions of PlayStation”.