Sega and Bungie were also among Microsoft’s takeover targets: Corresponding plans by the Xbox manufacturer became known through internal documents that the US antitrust watchdog the FTC used in their lawsuit against the Activision takeover.
Advertisement
According to the documents, Xbox boss Phil Spencer proposed in 2020 to buy the gaming company Sega. “We believe that Sega has built a balanced portfolio of games across different segments with global geographic appeal and will help us accelerate Xbox Game Pass both on and off console,” Spencer wrote in an email to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Sega’s brands include “Sonic”, “Yakuza” and the “Football Manager”. The Sega games should have continued to be released cross-platform, according to Spencer’s suggestion.
It is not known why Microsoft ultimately decided against buying Sega. A list of other possible acquisitions also came to light during the court hearings. The candidates included Zynga, Niantic, Supergiant Games, I/O Interactive and Bungie.
Microsoft vs Sony
The Bungie case is particularly interesting: The “Destiny” developer already belonged to Microsoft from 2000 to 2007, where it developed the popular “Halo” shooter. In 2022, Microsoft competitor Sony struck and secured the developer studio for 3.6 billion US dollars.
also read
Sony is Microsoft’s biggest adversary in the planned takeover of Activision Blizzard: The Playstation manufacturer supports the efforts of antitrust authorities to prevent Microsoft’s planned deal. According to Sony, it fears that Microsoft could publish important games exclusively for PC and Xbox consoles and thus change the console market in its favor.
This argument is undermined by an email that Sony’s Playstation boss Jim Ryan sent to a former colleague last year. In it, Ryan writes that Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision is not about exclusive games at all. “They think bigger than that,” Ryan writes in it. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be seeing ‘Call of Duty’ on Playstation for many years to come.” Microsoft has repeatedly assured Sony that it will continue to offer “Call of Duty” titles on the Playstation for years to come.
Advertisement
The court hearings sought by the FTC are expected to run until June 29th. Other witnesses include Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.
(then)