War for gamers: Sony persuades studios to abandon Game Pass

From the documents of the Brazilian regulators, which are investigating the purchase of Activision Blizzard, the details of the interaction between the two giants of the gaming industry - Microsoft and Sony have become known. According to information leaked to the network, Microsoft sent a document to Brazilian regulators in which it openly accused Sony of bribing video game developers so that their creations did not fall into Game Pass. Moreover, the Japanese corporation puts spokes in the wheels not only of Microsoft, but also of independent studios.

Microsoft's ability to expand Game Pass has been hampered by Sony's desire to discourage such growth.Sony is paying for "blocking rights" to prevent developers from adding content to Game Pass and other competing subscription services.

As part of the regulator's review of the proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the company alleged that Sony "hindered" the growth of its Game Pass service through business practices.

According to Microsoft, Sony is currently actively opposing the idea of creating competitive gaming subscription services that could undermine the PlayStation brand's success in "digital content distribution in the console market."

Sony's public statements about subscription games are clear. This company is not interested in the emergence of attractive gaming subscription services, as they risk undermining its dominance in the digital distribution of content in the console market. In other words, Sony opposes the creation of alternative methods of content monetization that will exist in opposition to its traditional business practices.

According to Microsoft, the further expansion of Game Pass is noticeably complicated due to the competitor's efforts to "block" the transfer of content to the subscription service.

The deal Microsoft is referring to is a common one in the industry. Publishing contracts are complex, and with the addition of subscription services like Game Pass or PS Plus, it adds another layer of complexity to any agreements between studios, publishers, and companies that own platforms like Xbox and PlayStation. This is likely not some sinister Sony master plan, but business as usual in an industry where timed and console exclusive deals are frequent.

Microsoft's response came shortly after Sony made its own announcement that its users would move to Xbox if Microsoft's deal to buy Activision Blizzard and, by extension, the Call of Duty franchise was completed. Microsoft has disputed this claim, and has also previously indicated that it will continue to support Call of Duty on PlayStation "in addition to the existing agreement" in the future.

Separately, Microsoft management noted that in part the development of the Xbox Game Pass service is directly limited by the actions of Sony. The Xbox team is aware that the Japanese giant has entered into and is entering into contracts with individual studios in which developers are expressly prohibited from releasing their games on Game Pass.