Jim Ryan on Microsoft's Activision Deal: It is Not About Xbox Exclusives - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 02 July 2023 / 6,394 Views
The FTC in the US vs. Microsoft hearing has started and it has been revealed Sony Interactive Entertainment President and CEO Jim Ryan believes Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition isn't about making games from the publisher Xbox exclusive. This is according to an unsealed email between Ryan and a former Sony CEO.
"It is not an exclusivity play at all," said Ryan. "They're thinking bigger than that and they have the cash to make moves like this. I've spent a fair amount of time with [Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil] Spencer [and Activision Blizzard CEO] Bobby [Kotick], and I'm pretty sure we will continue to see Call of Duty on PlayStation for years to come."
Ryan added, "We have some good stuff cooking. I'm not complacent, I'd rather this didn’t happen, but we'll be OK, we’ll be more than OK."
Microsoft has offered a 10-year deal with Sony to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation, however, Sony has not signed the deal. Microsoft offered the same 10-year deal with Nintendo to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms, which Nintendo has signed.
"Today showed Sony has known all along we’ll stand by our promise to keep games on its platform and made clear its work to lobby against the deal is only to protect its dominant position in the market," said Microsoft general manager of public affairs David Cuddy in a statement to The Verge.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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This can't be true. Matt Booty's 100% redacted email said this deal was to shutdown PlayStation! It's right there in all black!
Jim lied!?!?!? Who could have ever guessed....
Well, there you have it, right from the horse's mouth. Sony knew that Xbox never planned to make CoD exclusives, but went to regulators with a sob story about Playstation possibly losing CoD, just to try and get the deal blocked.
But that completely redacted email said …. Stephen Tortilla said …
Okay, so even Jim is admitting that he's not worried about CoD and even says PS will be fine if this deal goes through.
This is interesting fodder for us to talk about in gaming forums. But, I don't think this is very relevant in a court of law. He's making an informal statement here to a coworker about his opinions based on knowing the guys involved. It isn't a statement of fact that he knows for sure MS will keep CoD on PS.
It is a good example of a stuffed suit being a hypocrite. As if we needed more examples of that.
That said, this being a heavily politicized matter means that the court of public opinion is at least as important, probably more important, than the courts of law. So maybe this is significant.
bottom line its all about the $$$$$$$$$
LOL, this is the stuff why I dislike that Jim Ryan took control of Sony. He expresses whatever fits the context. In this mail at a former Sony CEO (whoever that was) he has calming words: everything is under control, Sony will be fine, I am great at my job. If he wants regulators to step in, he paints it in the worst colors, this acquisition will destroy gaming! What does he really think? Who knows, probably even he himself doesn't know or doesn't actually care. Soulless corporate suit.
You stirred the gaming industry pot with previous statements to get the FTC fired up, now its that layed back approach of "it doesn't matter now" attitude to pretend you are innocent in all this. Cant believe people like this guy.
I can't stand him there has been a clusterfuck of bad decisions under his watch, to me he is one of those executives who are great at corporate politics and can do a good job in a senior management but don't have the characteristics for a CEO position, while those senior but lesser positions give you greater scope when it comes to getting away with running your mouth off and may help you build a profile when like Ryan you have spent decades in such managerial positions it doesn't sit well at CEO positions with there higher profile to me Sony made a big mistake endorsing Ryan's powerplay.
Jim is a great buisness man but a very poor PR person. Some CEOs like Phil can do it but Jim just needs to stay in his chair and let others communicate.
How many lies has Jim Ryan told ! He literally said that any worse version of the next CoD will destroy PlayStation’s business. Biggest & most embarrassing liar in gaming.
This is what "bEiNg cAuGht iN 4K" actually looks like.
I bet Jimmy got a deal out of this. I don't know what it may be, but he got something good. Maybe a promise Microsoft won't make any more billion dollar video game purchases this generation, or maybe he got a deal to put Elder Scrolls 6 on a Playstation console. Maybe he got something else, who knows but we will find out one day.
He got nothing.
Both Jim and the European Union have already gotten a lot more than they would have gotten if no one said a thing about the deal. Time will tell if he was able to extract a little more.
