Since the series from Sony and Naughty Dog is a real success, the competitors intend to carry out their own projects.
In the battle for the takeover of Activision Blizzard, the offensives of each party no longer stop. Microsoft is doing its best to play carte blanche and prove its goodwill, while Sony is trying to rally industry and governments to its cause to put an end to this transaction. For the moment, the Federal Trade Commission is investigating very closely in order to judge the possible risks of unfair competition. Threatened from all sides, the Redmond firm and Activision Blizzard no longer hesitate to join the heap.
In December 2022, Microsoft even went so far as to reveal PlayStation’s intentions on the issue of exclusivity. Obviously, fans of Final Fantasy will not be able to play the new episode on PC or Xbox, as was the case for Final Fantasy XV. Same thing for the remake of Silent Hill 2. Since this first offensive, everything has become a pretext to ease our conscience. If there is one thing that we did not expect from the success of the series The Last of Us, it is that he can come and influence the balance of events.
“The Last of Us” but the first in the industry
The third episode of the HBO adaptation continues to propel the series towards new horizons. This unprecedented and moving chapter proves that taking risks and liberties can pay off. Following this broadcast, the episode in question caused a lot of talk on the networks. Inevitably, this success did not go unnoticed by competitors. Lulu Cheng Meservey, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Director of Communications at Activision, gave her little word of congratulations, not without an element of selfishness.
“Hey @FTC, did you watch the last episode of The Last of Us? It was amazing. (…) If you haven’t already, you should watch it. You might be particularly interested in the fact that The Last of Us is a series from Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions.“
Since Sony is ready to prove that the loss of call of duty could cost them big, Activision does not hesitate to outbid by proving the monopoly of the Japanese manufacturer and studio in many areas. Further down his tweet thread, the vice-president adds that there is no reason to worry about Sony’s leading position. Even though the Activision Blizzard takeover comes to an end, “Sony has a real fleet of licenses, not only in gaming but also in television, cinema, and music” she explains.
Still according to her, the series The Last of Us is the perfect example of Sony’s overpowering since its distribution has already revived dazzling sales for the game. Without killing the series, Activision Blizzard does not hesitate to shoot in this strange war on jealousy. However, it should be remembered that Microsoft is also playing in the television field with the series Halo, available on Canal and Paramount+. Will this lack of success where Sony excels be enough to grant buyout rights? The crucial final stages of this dramatic soap opera will play out in the months to come.
