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Here are the most explosive revelations from the legal battle between Microsoft and the FTC

Philipp Rüegg
7.7.2023
Translation: Katherine Martin

Microsoft wants to buy Activision Blizzard. Sony and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), however, are opposed. As a result, Microsoft and Sony have been forced to bare all in court – and reveal juicy industry secrets.

Like any other industry wishing to keep its secrets of success or failure under wraps, the game industry is intensely private. In the legal battle between Microsoft and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), we’ve been given some rare insights into the game industry’s biggest players.

In January 2022, Microsoft announced, it would buy Activision Blizzard for around 69 billion US dollars. The move was set to become the biggest takeover in game history. Subsequently, competition authorities in the various countries where Microsoft does business are scrutinising the deal closely.

Starfield very nearly became a PlayStation exclusive

Sony unconcerned about PlayStation’s future

No one likes exclusive games

Call of Duty makes 16 billion US dollars per year

The reason much of the discussion is revolving around Call of Duty becomes clear as soon as you look at the numbers. Poorly redacted Sony documents laid bare controversial details about the multiplayer shooter. In 2021, one million PlayStation users played only Call of Duty, with six million users still spending 70 per cent of their gaming time playing COD. Meanwhile, 14 million gamers dedicated 30 per cent of their PlayStation time to the game.

In the US alone, Call of Duty grossed 800 million dollars in 2021. Worldwide sales of the game generated 1.5 billion US dollars. The figure rises to an exorbitant 13.9 billion USD, or 15.9 billion USD if subscription costs, accessories and other additional purchases are included. The exact figure isn’t legible in the document. And these are just the numbers for PlayStation.

Microsoft wanted Bungie, Sega, Square Enix and more

Cloud gaming flop

Publishers dislike Xbox Game Pass

Microsoft able to «spend Sony out of business»

The Last of Us: Part 2 cost over 220 million US dollars

Activision misjudged the Switch

PS5 Slim at the end of the year, handheld under 300 US dollars

Next console generation will launch in 2028

Header image: Starfield / Bethesda

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As a child, I wasn't allowed to have any consoles. It was only with the arrival of the family's 486 PC that the magical world of gaming opened up to me. Today, I'm overcompensating accordingly. Only a lack of time and money prevents me from trying out every game there is and decorating my shelf with rare retro consoles. 


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