EA Is The Largest Games Supplier To PlayStation Claims Microsoft

In a document responding to the CMA, Microsoft claims that EA is the largest games supplier to PlayStation.

[Godmars290]

So by such logic that wouldn't also make them the biggest 3rd party game supporter to MS as well? Nevermind that likely puts Activision in the top ten if not five on such a list thus bringing into question why Sony wouldn't have issue in allowing a major competitor buy them and their library much less Blizzard's.

[Obscure_Observer]

Sony doesn´t care about Activsion/Blizzard, they only care about COD, MS is only showing that Sony makes more money out of EA than any other publisher, which doesn´t mean MS is not taking advantage of EA´s support as well.

Even Ubisoft and Take are more important to Sony than Activision/Blizzard.

Bottom line: Microsoft has a strong case here.

[Godmars290]

A strong case at what? Using COD as leverage in some way?

Remove it from PS MS may gut the franchises profits, yet still those profits could be made up in support of the Xbox brand. That's the bet they made as soon as they went for the deal whether MS understood what they were doing or not.

[shinoff2183]

Ea ubisoft Activision. It doesn't matter really. It's still the same opinion that ms shouldn't be able to by any large publisher like that.

[Vengeance1138]

Other than a strong case of desperation, they have nothing. Face it MS is crying trying to push this through lol making up more and more nonsense every day.

[derek]

@Obscure, bottom line: the cma after reviewing millions of documents and listening to the parties to this deal/3rd parties/the public has made a finding of fact that the deal to buy abk will reduce competition in the market and that either there be some sort of divestment or the deal should be blocked.

[Crows90]

Not true at all. What kind of silly accusations are these. If a game makes Sony money they obviously care about it. Diablo 4 for instance.

You know who actually doesn't care? MS. Because they're not buying the company to grow it or make it better. They're after the IP in order to take it away from competitors.

[DashMad]

Sony say Microsoft can acquire Activision but they have to sell COD IP franchise. Sony practically don't care anything Activision made except COD.
https://exputer.com/news/so...

[S2Killinit]

Right. Because you say so.

Listen guy, Im a console gamer. I mainly play on Playstation, and I think what MS is doing is plain wrong. These games used to come to all consoles, we all used to play them. MS is taking these games away from the majority of console gamers forever. That is fucked.

[Obscure_Observer]

@derek

"bottom line: the cma after reviewing millions of documents and listening to the parties to this deal/3rd parties/the public has made a finding of fact that the deal to buy abk will reduce competition in the market and that either there be some sort of divestment or the deal should be blocked."

*From February 8, 2023*

Nice try though.

Here´s some actual developments on CMA:

https://www.vgchartz.com/ar...

@Crows90

"Not true at all. What kind of silly accusations are these. If a game makes Sony money they obviously care about it. Diablo 4 for instance."

BS! Sony don´t give a shit about Diablo. Had Microsoft agreed with CMA´s demands to sell COD franchise to some third party publisher, the deal would pass through without further concessions and you would be left here crying over Diablo while admiring Sony for giving you the middle finger!

@S2Killinit

"These games used to come to all consoles, we all used to play them. MS is taking these games away from the majority of console gamers forever. That is fucked."

The deal will go through, the day after COD will continue on Playstation and you´ll have to find another war to fight for Sony. Mark my words!

[Hereandthere]

Theres no strong case, Youre taking away yet more 3rd party games like. on top of taking away the elder scroll series, fallout and the rest of the Bethesda games. Its BS for lack of a better term.

World of Warcraft
Call of Duty
Diablo
Overwatch
Hearthstone
Candy Crush
Starcraft
Crash Bandicoot
Warcraft
Heroes of the Storm
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Spyro series
Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice

[kindi_boy]

I'm all for Sony to burn to ashes for all I care, but still I think you have no idea what you are talking about.

[Obscure_Observer]

"Remove it from PS MS may gut the franchises profits, yet still those profits could be made up in support of the Xbox brand."

Dude, please. At this point you know and I know that it´s not about remove COD from Playstation, because (again) you KNOW it´s not happening by any stretch of the imagination.

COD is a premium multi-player and multiplatform game which success depends on big playerbase and both Sony and Microsoft knows that.

COD will continue to be released on every platform as possible as always has been, even more if the deal pass through. Sony is just envious on how much money MS will make out COD franchise and that reason alone will not be suffice to block this deal. Period!

[ChiefofLoliPolice]

You...are...such...an...idiot.

[Godmars290]

Its not about removing COD, its about having influence over a competitor. Just like they tried to use cross play and BC as Xbox selling points, features they've either been against themselves at one point or recently dropped after seeming endless shows of support, if COD could be used for one thing now it will be used for something else later. Like putting Game Pass on Playstation.

Don't say MS wouldn't do such when prior to buying Bethesda they promised to keep all titles multi. Only after the sale was close to being done or done, that tune changed till long afterwards they were announcing exclusives.

[Zeref]

What makes you think they're arguing otherwise? They're just stating the facts.

Sony is acting like Call of Duty is the biggest thing in the gaming industry. It's not. The fact that everyone is making such a big deal out of CoD is pathetic.

It hasn't been the premier shooter since the 360 generation.

If Microsoft makes it exclusive it would barely put a dent into PS sales. Unless you're arguing that the whole value of the playstation console hinges on CoD? Which is an odd thing to argue, especially looking at what the sony fanboys on this website are saying.

[MrNinosan]

Which game makes more money than Call of Duty?

[KaoticBrock]

Call of Duty is the only premier shooter left. What other shooter releases every year? What other shooter makes as much money? What game release does every developer try to dodge releasing against every year? Call of Duty is the only game that checks those boxes.

[KaoticBrock]

Sony just wants to keep it's 80% control of the console market. They are trying to sell this idea that Microsoft owning Call of Duy is bad for the gaming industry, but the truth is it would only be bad for Sony and their control of the market. Why would it be bad for the gaming industry for Microsoft to control the console market when Sony has controlled it for over 20 years? Either way gamers will still have Call of Duty available to them, Sony just won't be raking in crazy money for the release each year.

[Godmars290]

"Why would it be bad for the gaming industry for Microsoft to control the console market"

By example of what was originally going to happen with the Xbox One after the 360 had seemingly brought them to leading the market. Namely mandatory Kinect, always online and complete control over used games sales as well as personal exchanges. Even though they never recovered from the backlash of that, it still hasn't stopped them from implementing always online.

And how does Sony control 80% when not only Nintendo but PC are things?

[Aloymetal]

''Why would it be bad for the gaming industry for Microsoft to control the console market''
What makes you think MS would control the gaming market? MS/Xbox needs A LOT MORE than Bethesda and Activision to control the gaming market. I'm dying for this MS/activision deal to go thru just to prove my point.

[richardmmorales]

@Godmars290 at no point did they ever say all games would remain multiplat when buying Bethesda. The FTC tried saying this and the EU Commission even called them out saying that was wrong. They said releases would be on a case by case basis. and they have continued to support multiplats on Playstation as well as announce some exclusives. Starfield and Redfall were never announced for Playstation.

How come it seems like die hard playstation fans are always trying to rewrite and change facts on stuff that has happened.? It's ridiculous all these claims that the FTC and Sony have made. When Sony themselves practice in all these things they are complaining about.

[XiNatsuDragnel]

Interesting same with Microsoft by that logic but also Sony and most ppl are afraid of the power COD and how owning it creates an unfair advantage to the consumer and playstation.

[PitbullMonster]

Sony: " if we put COD Day one into PS+ then the subscription fees become more expensive"
Microsoft: " Gamepass will cost the same even after we bought ABK and put their games day one into our service."
This is what Microsoft and Sony told us and it shows that Microsoft can influence the prices on the competition platform with the takeover.

[Asplundh]

MS can't buy COD and keep it multiplaform, but Sony can obtain Destiny which is also a big fps, seems like a double standard.

[rippermcrip]

Microsoft is buying a whole publisher, dozens of franchises. Which includes COD, the highest selling game on a yearly basis.

Sony bought Bungie, who has a single franchise.

Great comparison.

[MEGANE]

With all respect, but this kind of comments tells me people only been playing video games for a couple of years and don’t understand much about the market.

[Asplundh]

@Ripper
You're not following the conversation, I brought up Destiny because If we're arguing powerfull ips that can control the market, Destiny is right up there.

@Megane
Try 20+ years.

[mocaak]

Microsoft is the one that started buying up multiplat developers, Obsidian, Double Fine, Ninja Theory, then topped it off with a whole Bethesda buyout. And now reaching all the way for Activision.

And you are comparing that to Bungie? Which as far as we know will keep its games multiplat.

[Asplundh]

@mocaak
Nope. Sony has been buying multiplatforms since the early 90's, long before Xbox was even a thing. This only became a problem when the guy with the bigger wallet came along.

I was comparing COD to Destiny. Bungie isn't Sony's only purchased studio.

[CS7]

@Asplundh

Wow.

Firstly COD and Destiny are in completely different leagues in terms of annual revenue generation and duration.

Secondly, its not just COD. Its Diablo, Overwatch, Warcraft, Starcraft, Crash, Spyro, Starfield, Elder Scrolls, Fallout, Wolfenstein, Dishonored, Prey, Doom, Quake. ALL of which would certainly have showed up on Playstation but likely wouldn’t now due to industry consolidation.

I can’t believe I have to spell that out for you but let’s talk double standard now…

[gerbintosh]

@Asplundh

Did you do any research about the Bungie purchase? Bungie is underneath Playstation however they were given independence. Meaning they can decide what platforms they want to support and Sony will not get involved. From the article below:

"That Destiny 2 and future Bungie games will remain multiplatform isn't new. Back when the deal was announced, both Bungie and PlayStation made it clear that the studio will remain fully independent and that its games will be available outside of the PlayStation family of consoles. Still, it's worth noting that six months later, that still seems to very much be the case."

https://www.gamesradar.com/...

[1Victor]

@aspl: “MS can't buy COD and keep it multiplaform, but Sony can obtain Destiny which is also a big fps, seems like a double standard”

Can you be a bit more unfairly with your comparison as destiny made over 800 millions in 3 days with it last game compared to CoD FREE TO PLAY🤦🏿/SARCASM

[Asplundh]

@Gerbin
I didn't say that it wouldn't be multiplaform. Sony still owns the Ip and MS would be keeping COD multiplaform, not sure what your point is.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

Why didn’t Sony sign a deal to put it on PS+?

[FlavorLav01]

Because we’re not programmed to wait until everything is given to us for next to nothing. Playstation gamers still support their hobby with their wallets.

[Charlieboy333]

Because Sony makes a crap ton of money off the SALES of COD.

[richardmmorales]

Because they just want to block the deal.

[Bathyj]

Oh Microsoft.
You need to shut up. Seriously.
All you've done the last year is convince everyone by your own admission that you are by far, the worst platform holder. And you've done it well, we all know that now

My question is why should we be ok with the worst platform holder being in charge of the industries most valuable franchise. What makes you think you've earned or deserve that?

You don't let your clumsy kid with a clump foot who bumps into walls carry your fine china. You do it yourself because you can be trusted not to fck it up. You can definately NOT be trusted with this responsibility.

[phoenixwing]

Every Xbox fan brings up the value proposition or the amount of money Microsoft has. The conversation about who made better quality games died years ago after the beginning of Xbox one. The only reason they're even relevant now is because of these big publisher buyouts. If the question is if they deserve it, the answer is no.

This is business though so morality questions aren't so great to ask. But it definitely shows the kind of values Xbox fanboys have.

To Xbox fanboys; what kind of quality control are you expecting from Microsoft once they buy up Activision blizzard? Because Microsoft track record is lackluster to me.

[Obscure_Observer]

"To Xbox fanboys; what kind of quality control are you expecting from Microsoft once they buy up Activision blizzard? Because Microsoft track record is lackluster to me."

"Because you´re either blind or just disingenuously pretends to be."

I dare you to look up at Metacritic and find a single Xbox Series first party game which has a Metascore below 82 and come back here to say Xbox Games Studios has shit quality control with a straight face. I dare you!

The Mattrick days are over! The Xbox One days are over! The days of Xbox having 5 first party studios vs Playstation with its 13 first party games are over.

Under Xbox, you saw how Hellblade II transitioned from an Indie game to a full fledge AAA game! You saw Forza Motorsport transitioned from old to a full next gen release, you know Fable will be anything but a bad quality game been developed by Playground, you saw how Obsidian is working on its first big AAA open word game with Avowed, same can be said about State of Decay 3 and the unannounced AAA games from Compulsion and InXile.

This is how Xbox is empowering its first party studios and if you think those studios will deliver lower/sh!t quality games now they´re under Xbox Games Studios, you´re in for some major shock. Mark my words, June 11 can´t come soon enough, and crow dinner will be served to you!

[phoenixwing]

@obscure
You mention obsidian which they bought and ninja theory which they bought. The degradation is going to be slower than one immediate game after their purchase but it will happen. Halo didn't deserve the scores it got its fully worse than it has ever been even with the open world. It simply has less features than it's predecessor. I like how you picked some arbitrary 82 number to decide on like how that means anything. Remember for a fact Craig happened. They thought that was good enough and back peddled after they were completely made a laughing stock. Crackdown happened. Not to mention you've gone about a literal decade with little to show for it besides a racing game being good. I own a gaming pc. I can play Xbox gamepass if I want to. If you want to argue about quality how many Microsoft games have been goty contenders compared to sony?

[Elda]

@Observer WOW!! You're trying to sell that as if you work for XB or XB is your lover. Smh. "Mark my words June 11th can't come soon enough" Translation..."wait until MS/XB next showcase" that line has been said over & over for years now & still nothing.

[Obscure_Observer]

@phoenixwing

"You mention obsidian which they bought and ninja theory which they bought."

So what? Those developers are getting more support, resources, manpower, money and FREEDOM to create and develop the games they want to make from Xbox Games Studios than they ever had while independent.

Do you remember how fanboys on N4G used to describe both NT and Obsidian prior acquisition? "In dire situation" and "nearly bankrupted" respectively. Now both studios are working in big AAA projects as Xbox first party studios and all you can do now is damage control.

"The degradation is going to be slower than one immediate game after their purchase but it will happen"

So now we´re supposed to believe whatever FUD BS your crystal ball tells you? I brought you FACTS and all you have is your hateful and nonsensical ramblings? Smdh.

"Halo didn't deserve the scores it got its fully worse than it has ever been even with the open world."

You´re not in a position to speak for anyone but yourself. The vast majority thinks the game is great and it has a 87 Metascore. So feel free to bash your head against the wall as a protest knowing in advance that it won´t change anything.

"I like how you picked some arbitrary 82 number to decide on like how that means anything."

It´s not arbitrary, genius. It´s factual Metacritic data on Xbox Series first party games since its release back in November 2020. I don´t care if you like it or not, you can´t spin this! Your lying and fallacious narrative finds no bearing in reality.

"If you want to argue about quality how many Microsoft games have been goty contenders compared to sony?"

You´re claiming bragging rights for games from the OLD generation when Xbox Games Studios used to be made of 5 studios vs Playstation and it´s 13 first party studios by comparison.

I´m talking about the NOW. I´m talking about the current generation and how Xbox and Playstation first party games will be compared against one another.

YOU are the one telling people how future Xbox first games will suck and how first party studios will be destroyed by Xbox Games Studios.

Only one of us will have crow diet to enjoy!

@Elda

"Mark my words June 11th can't come soon enough" Translation..."wait until MS/XB next showcase" that line has been said over & over for years now & still nothing."

I know. You have a point on all this "wait for E3" rhetorical debate. Still, games takes time to be developed, even more time in therms of first party AAA games when publisher will avoid and enforce pressure over the said studios.

I´m not preaching Xbox is gonna knock out the park with it´s showcase in 11 June, but I´m definitely excited to get updates on many AAA games which has been 4 or 5 year in development since new studios were acquired by Microsoft.

[1Victor]

@obscured: “I dare you to look up at Metacritic and find a single Xbox Series first party game which has a Metascore below 82”
Sure how convenient to choose the latest console with the less amount of games but here’s some reminders that Xbox studios aren’t as clean as you choose to believe
Fable 3 metascore 80
Minecraft: story mode episode 1 metascore 77

Do you want me to look at all the elder scrolls now that they are Microsoft first party or are you good

“and come back here to say Xbox Games Studios has shit quality control with a straight face. I dare you! “

Hey if the shoes and the poorly managed money hat fit wear it along with the shame shorts and funny shirt🤷🏿

[Obscure_Observer]

"My question is why should we be ok with the worst platform holder being in charge of the industries most valuable franchise. What makes you think you've earned or deserve that?"

Because Activision Blizzard is a PRIVATE company and it´s owners wants THEIR company to be acquired by Microsoft. Nothing more, nothing less.

That said, don´t forget that you can always offer Activision Blizzard more money and gift it to Sony any day of the year.

[jznrpg]

It’s actually a publicly traded company

[Obscure_Observer]

@jznrpg

"It’s actually a publicly traded company"

Which general consensus wants the acquisition to pass through.

[PapaBop]

Worst case scenario, think of all the money Microsoft would lose if they made Activision Blizzard games gamepass platforms only.. from a pure business perspective, they'd likely need the PS revenue to balance the books if the large majority of their fanbase are getting it for free on gamepass.

[badz149]

Even after it was revealed that CoD is the biggest seling franchise and best selling games on PS for 10 consecutive years?

Wow what a spin

[theindiearmy]

There is a difference between a publisher being the largest game supplier and a single franchise being the best-selling. While COD may sell the most, by time you add up FIFA, The Sims, Madden, Need for Speed, Star Wars, etc. etc. EA is supplying more games than Activision.

[badz149]

So because EA makes more games than Activision and thus making them the largest game supplier for both Sony and MS, MS should be allowed to buy Activision whole? See the spin there?

[theindiearmy]

The CMA asked Microsoft for more information on the subject, so they are providing it. They aren't spinning anything, they are simply providing what was asked for. The biggest people spinning things are you Sony fanboys in these comments. 😂

[richardmmorales]

"theindiearmy
The CMA asked Microsoft for more information on the subject, so they are providing it. They aren't spinning anything, they are simply providing what was asked for. The biggest people spinning things are you Sony fanboys in these comments. 😂"

So true. It's the same with people asking how come Microsoft only showed Sony and Xbox with the 20% to 80% marketshare. And didn't include Nintendo. It's because the complaints didn't include Nintendo. and the commissions are the ones who stated that Nintendo aren't in this market. which they narrowed down to being Xbox and Playstation. in what they referred to as being the only powerful next gen consoles. Microsoft simply used the terms that these commissions did against them.

[Profchaos]

When you have FIFA, madden on yearly cycles along with at least 2 or 3 other projects and some small lower quality games then yeah but doesn't mean those games are system sellers

[kingnick]

Those games don't have to be innovate or be great games. The Ultimate Team Mode in FIFA makes more money then Elden Ring.

Football (Soccer) is the most popular sport in the world and while console fanbois might think the games aren't system sellers if the FIFA games were available on PS5 OR Xbox Series but not both a lot of players would buy the console platform that FIFA was available on.

[Crows90]

I don't think anybody is arguing against you here.

Yes. These sports games would actually be a similar example to cod. Many will shift to another console if it stops showing up in one of them.

[Imalwaysright]

Fifa is most certainly a system seller in Europe and is the only IP that can consistently outsell CoD IP in Europe. Not sure if the same is true for Madden in the US.

[S2Killinit]

Getting tired of MS’s shit.

[Aloymetal]

Same thing with me, the only difference is I saw their bs the moment they enter the gaming industry.

[TheEnigma313]

MS is so desperate it's embarrassing. Focus on the 20 plus studios you've ruined.

[Profchaos]

They've got them busy delaying gamepass fodder

[gold_drake]

Microsoft is claiming alot lately.

[343_Guilty_Spark]

And supports it with documents.

Sonys claims have all been largely thrown out of court.

[gold_drake]

sure sure ha

[Fonsecap]

Nobody understands the true Sony purpose here... Sony is trying to save Microsoft a l ton of money. Now seriously, if Microsoft invested this pornografic amount of money in they're own studios, couldn't they come up with even better ip's then Activision or even Sony?

[SonyStyled]

That’s what The Coalition is for. They are a AAAA studio

[jznrpg]

AAAA-AA + Crystal Dynamics = ?

-AA for all the top devs that left the first ever AAAA studio

[Gravity_DoGG]

LMAAAAO

[Crows90]

Coming up with better IP is a result of talent and passion. MS doesn't have that but the studios they've purchased may. Thing is they don't know how to lead studios. They don't even know how to manage them.

[kingnick]

Assuming your assumption that Microsoft don't know how to lead studios (fyi studio leads/heads do that) is correct then it makes even more sense for Microsoft to buy existing studios and publishers.

I don't necessarily think this merger would be a win/win for Microsoft/ABK. ABK has their own problems and as much as I dislike Kotick as a human being you can't deny he has delivered for shareholders in the past.

[Crows90]

@kignick

All people in higher positions are supposed to lead others. Leadership 101. As far as MS not leading there studios ...thats not an assumption, its fact. Otherwise their studios would have done better thus far. They cant lead and have no passion for the gaming industry.

[Asplundh]

Money clearly isn't the issue. Just look at the rumored development cost of Halo Infinate, in the end it was a mediocre game that had a rocky start, hundreds of millions in development cost and no one in control with enough sense to say hey let's not show off this game in the state that it's in. They have the studios, but they lack in leadership to guide them to make a great product.

[kingnick]

343i will be a lose cause until they get someone competent to lead development and give that person the necessary authority and creative control to see a game through to completion. All the 343i games have had troubled development cycles but unlike Bungie of old they can't crunch at the end of the development cycle and deliver a complete game.

[Aloymetal]

Bingo, with the amount of money they have, if you think about it they shouldn't have any competition. But it's MS after all, make profits with little effort possible so in other words...Whatever gets them by.
It's just more embarrassing when they have all the money in the world.

[anast]

MS's is the largest supplier of operating systems in the world. I think MS has 70% of the share or something like that.

[S2Killinit]

Soooo MS argument is that because Activision is not the biggest, we can take it away? Wtf

Im sure all PlayStation consumers will forgive MS for making Activision multiplatform games exclusove to xbox s:

[Vanfernal]

So MS went after Zenimax which was huge... Now Activision. What stops them from trying to aquire EA or Ubisoft next? That's the main reason this merger is bad for the gamers. We will be getting less options on franchises that have been historically available on pretty much all platforms.

[Elda]

LMAO!! That sounds so absurd. If that's the case then MS are a supplier to EA as well knowing EA games are on XB just as equally as PS.

[TheColbertinator]

I don't even know what these two companies are arguing about any more. The sooner the purchase is finished the better.

[mastershredder]

Yawn.

[Thundercat77]

MS making claims from the documents Sony provided but they don't want to comply with the FTC and provide their documents and the details of their suspicious 10 year contracts .

[sadraiden]

Idiotic whataboutism.

How many people are playing Fifa this moment on gamepass?

[chobit_A5HL3Y]

i just think it's sad how the gaming industry as a whole relies so much on the most garbage of companies(ea, ubi, act/blizz, etc).

[CPTN MITCHELL]

And that's why ea play is free on Ms but not playstation 😂

[frostypants]

What point would that even prove? Wouldn't make MS buying Activision any less corrosive for the industry as a whole.