The dramatic episode related to the Activision Blizzard acquisition has heated up since Microsoft decided to increase its regulators’ engagement. Earlier this week, the company published its reaction to FTC over its legal complaint, skewing its awkward position of willing to rescue the market leader over customers.
The company’s response to the UK CMA a few months ago was similar to its recent reaction to the matter, where it seemingly verified what almost everyone expected was true.
The Remake of Final Fantasy VII came into view with a countdown timer indicating how long it would continue to be exclusive to Sony PlayStation. It led Xbox lovers to expect the game would eventually arrive on a Microsoft console, but it couldn’t be the case.
Microsoft verified in its response to the UK regulator, saying Sony has initiated permanent omission plans for games like Final Fantasy XVI, Bloodborne, and the remake of Silent Hill II.
Microsoft’s Stance on Third-Party Agreements
Microsoft confirms the usage frequency of exclusive strategies, and the company has worked with similar agreements in the past, such as Sunset Overdrive and Ryse from the Xbox One generation. The company hasn’t yet chosen to work with third-party agreements that prohibit competing gaming platforms from previously existing franchises.
Xbox released Rise of the Tomb Raider with a brief-timed exclusive mode for the company. It made Microsoft skew in the wide games press to make such a deal.
Microsoft needs more popular franchises under its banner to compete with Sony and Nintendo. The competition among the big gaming brands is the only way to get consumers into Xbox Game Pass. Sony’s deals verify that Microsoft should be able to use Activision Blizzard.
Sony has done it in the interest of its shareholders and customers by banning the games from hitting Microsoft. On the other hand, the tech giant also admitted that games like Starfield would be fully Xbox-exclusive content.
Sony Makes New Agreements
Sony has outright exclusive content. It has jumped into new agreements with third-party publishers, which need the elimination of Xbox from these platforms so they can release their games for gamers. Squire Enix’s the Remake of Final Fantasy VII, Software’s Bloodborne, and Bloober team’s Silent Hill II are prominent examples of these deals.
Although Final Fantasy XVI and the remake of Final Fantasy VII may be a part of Xbox, this often-overlooked passage may be the final thing. Bloober team intends to launch Silent Hill II on PC, and PlayStation 5 with a 1-year exclusive window, though it is still vague whether or not Xbox will have the game.
The remake of Final Fantasy VII is a thriller action RPG re-imagining of the 90’s JRPG. It comprises catching combat mechanisms and hours of longing exploration to participate. Likewise, Final Fantasy XVI and Silent Hill II are fascinating projects with a legendary status, though they may not be part of Xbox. It debatably strengthens Microsoft’s stance regarding exclusive content.
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