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
Discussion (9 replies)
Join Discussion →Oh well.
Too bad.
I like to call this self fulfilling prophecy.
Sony first.
"Don't allow this or we won't get the shooter game and loose console sales as people move over to Xbox only where the game will be made."
Microsoft
"Oh we won't do that we'll even sign a promise to continue making MW games for Sonly console for the next 5 years."
Sony
"Oh that's great... but how the EFF you gonna do that when we won't give you developer consoles huh?!"
MS to court.
"We cant control this."
Court
"Well I guess you're off the hook for making MW games for sony consoles then."
Sony
"YEa see... no WAIT!!!"
Sony has a point about pre-release developer consoles.
But after release it's a mostly moot point.
Of course sony wouldn't. They can't. I mean unless they already ship /share details of their early hardware with ms for reasons. Though in reality Sony, AMD, Nvidia, Intel, ARM, Seagate, Micron, TSMC, WD, Texas Instruments, United Plastics, Industrial Molds, Power Supply companies, on and on probably uses MS cloud services, so MS knows the PS6 design before sony does anyway.
There is at least the paper shield of an NDA in place - and those companies aren't directly owned by the competition.
Although the Mojang exception is ... somewhat hypocritical, I admit.
Microsoft sitting in their office "we don't plan to make new IPs through activision on the Playstation anyway."
it's not like they launch a lot of new IP's there anyways, but making a couple billion on COD games might make their gaming division finally a profit.
True but it'll take a few years to pay off that $61B pricetag.
and so the pissing contest continues between them. Unfortunately, it's ultimately the consumers that are getting pissed on.