Boss of PlayStation Jim Ryan travelled to Brussels to meet EU regulators in person to discuss Microsoft’s impending Activision Blizzard purchase.
Ryan has been vocal in his criticism of the proposed $68bn deal, which would see Xbox own the Call of Duty publisher.
Dealreporter (via VGC) reports that Ryan flew to Europe on 8th September to meet regulators and express his concerns face-to-face.
Representatives of Google, owner of Stadia, have also reportedly raised issues.
Just days after the meeting, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority announced it would further investigate Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Shortly after, Sony and Microsoft began a war of words online, trading increasingly blunt statements about the potential deal.
For its part, Microsoft has repeatedly promised to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for “several more years” – a pledge that Ryan previously blasted as “inadequate on many levels”.
Microsoft owning Call of Duty for itself – even if it continues to release on PlayStation – appears to be Sony’s biggest issue with the overall transaction. Sony has suggested Microsoft’s current claims leave the door open to Call of Duty becoming Xbox-exclusive at some point in the future, something which could then seriously harm future PlayStation hardware sales.