Readers’ Opinion is a place to share your thoughts in the comments section below. We’ll feature our favorite replies in the next installment.
Microsoft’s struggle to seal its Activision Blizzard deal has been going on for over a year now, as Sony and regulators alike try to prevent the acquisition from going through. Most recently, it’s been reported that the EU won’t make Microsoft sell Call of Duty as part of the deal, as was previously rumored, and Sony has been told it needs to reveal all of its PlayStation exclusivity deals.
But do you care about the deal and its potential ramifications on the industry? Let us know in the comments below!
Our opinion…
Whatever the outcome, I just want this to end. We’ve been hearing about the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard deal on a near-weekly basis since it was announced, and all the will-they-won’t-they news has blurred into one.
Sony’s fight against the acquisition when it has been so gung-ho about its own exclusivity deals has always been a little hypocritical, but at least Sony’s influence as a publisher has largely paid off when it has come to the companies it has acquired. On the other hand, Microsoft’s first-party studios have been incredibly hit-and-miss, most notably with 343 Industries’ flubbing of Halo Infinite and The Coalition’s underwhelming Gears of War sequels.
As such, I find it difficult to be excited for anything that could possibly come out of this acquisition, save for big games like Starfield making their way to Game Pass. Microsoft doesn’t have a great track record in recent years, and the deal would see PlayStation being sidelined.
You said…
In the last Readers’ Opinion, we asked if Sony should change its divisive PlayStation State of Play events, and
Timewarp suggested a change…
Maybe what Sony needs to do is rethink what games they show off at their showcases and limit them to titles releasing alongside the exclusive they plan to make the showcase around (I.E games out in Autumn around the same time as Spider-Man 2)
They could also copy Nintendo and have an indie showcase which could give a number of their indie partners time to shine. Also I’d stop giving Warner Bros any more attention till they can pull themselves together.
WeAllFallDown pointed out how the media (hey, that’s us!) is to blame for increased expectations around these events…
Sony is always transparent with what will be shown. It’s websites like this that speculate that some major game like Metal Gear Solid is possibly going to be revealed as a surprise.
