Sony are fearing that Microsoft could release a PlayStation version of Call of Duty where bugs would appear in the final levels of the game or only after post-launch updates.
United Kingdom's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA UK) have released Sony's official observations on the CMA's Remedies notice for Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
In a 13-page document, Sony have once again offered their thoughts on why the deal should be completely banned or allowed only with structural remedies that would see Microsoft split Activision Blizzard or sell off the Call of Duty IP to a third party among other possible solutions.
Additionally, Sony argue that certain remedies that Microsoft proposed, like ensuring technical parity for Call of Duty on Xbox and PlayStation , may be challenging to detect as Microsoft could release Call of Duty on PlayStation with bugs that would only appear in final levels of the game.
Yes, you have read that right. Sony are actually arguing that Microsoft could intentionally sabotage Call of Duty on PlayStation with bugs and errors hidden in final levels or added in post-launch updates. Here's how Sony describe it in the official document:
...swiftly detecting any diversions from, and ensuring compliance with, a commitment as to technical or graphical quality would be challenging. For example, Microsoft might release a PlayStation version of Call of Duty where bugs and errors emerge only on the game’s final level or after later updates. Even if such degradations could be swiftly detected, any remedy would likely come too late, by which time the gaming community would have lost confidence in PlayStation as a go-to venue to play Call of Duty.
Call of Duty
Sony fear that players who discover these bugs would switch to Xbox consoles for a more polished experience. We have to say, it's a pretty bizarre point from Sony and one that Microsoft could easily counterpoint by pointing at their other first-party games that run great on PlayStation like Deathloop , Ghostwire Tokyo and Minecraft Dungeons.
But, given that Sony are desperate to block this deal, no wonder they're trying to throw everything they've got to achieve that.
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