The redemption ofActivision-Blizzard by Microsoft is now entering its home stretch and the coming weeks should hold many twists and turns. Earlier in the week, we learned that the CMA, the regulator of the United Kingdom, issued an interim report which was intended to warn Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard, with a potential blocking attempt like the FTC (US regulator). You can imagine that all this causes knots at the head of the leaders of Microsoft, but also those of Activision-Blizzard, with Bobby Kotick in the front line.
When Kotick is ghosted by Sony
It had been a while since the person concerned had really spoken in public, but the tumult caused by the takeover of the company he runs is starting to make him come out of his hinges.
Questioned on this subject by Financial Times (relayed by VGC), Kotick pointed the finger at Sony’s attitude in this whole affair, which he accuses of wanting to sabotage the deal (sacred truism). No one needed Bobby Kotick points out to realize this, but he goes further by stating that Sony has cut short all communication, until no longer answering calls from the CEO of Activision-Blizzard :
“Suddenly, the entire management team at Sony stopped talking to anyone at Microsoft. I think that’s all Sony is trying to do, to sabotage the takeover. The idea that we’re not going to support PlayStation or that Microsoft won’t support PlayStation [en sortant Call of Duty sur la plateforme] is absurd. ยป
Kotick also claims that if the UK tries to block the takeover, it will only end in defeat. A very confident tone that serves above all an image war and only to show the big muscles. After all, Kotick only wants one thing, his pretty golden parachute that he would get if the takeover were to go through. We are now awaiting the continuation of the decision of the CMA, then that of Europe in order to have a clearer vision of the future of this deal.