Axios’ Stephen Totilo has shared a “highly confidential” transcript with comments from PlayStation boss Jim Ryan that suggests Activision won’t be getting any early, exclusive details regarding the PS6 in the event that Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard, worth $69 billion, goes through. Ryan is asked as to why Sony would do this, to which the executive explained that it would be too risky to give such confidential information to a direct competitor, seemingly confirming its future plans. The inquirer then brings up the curious fact that Sony is already working with a Microsoft-owned developer—Minecraft’s Mojang—but Ryan didn’t seem to have much to say about that aside from it being a “concern” for Sony.
From @stephentotilo:
Q: If you look at the next sentence of the very last sentence on the page, that reads: This partnership would be lost. And it goes on to the next page, it continues: Once Microsoft acquired Activision and SIE could no longer share confidential details about its next console development. Do you see that language?
A: I do.
Q: Why could SIE no longer share confidential details about its next console and development once Microsoft acquired Activision?
A: We simply could not run the risk of a company that was owned by a direct competitor having access to that information.
[…]
Q: Did Microsoft acquire Mojang around 2014?
A: I believe it was around about then, yes.
Q: Was Minecraft already available on PlayStation consoles when Microsoft acquired Mojang?
A: Yes, it was.
Q: Does that go back to your concern about your direct competitor having access to your information about consoles in development?
A: It does.
In an FTC v MS/ABK deposition, PlayStation chief Jim Ryan said that, if deal closes, Sony couldn't tell Activision about its next console
— Stephen Totilo (@stephentotilo) June 21, 2023
Is then asked about Sony working with Mojang (Minecraft) after MS bought them. Discussion is redacted but Ryan says it supports this concern pic.twitter.com/M86CBm3CcY