Activision

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella is “very, very confident” that their merger with Activision Blizzard will go ahead despite ongoing investigations.

We want to guarantee PlayStation gamers continue to have the highest quality Call Of Duty experience, and Microsoft’s proposal undermines this principle.” [PlayStation](https://www.nme.com/tag/playstation) CEO Jim Ryan branded Microsoft‘s [Call Of Duty](https://www.nme.com/games/call-of-duty) offer “ [inadequate on many levels](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/playstation-says-call-of-duty-offer-by-microsoft-is-inadequate-on-many-levels-3306571)” after Microsoft promised to keep the franchise on PlayStation for three years beyond the current agreement between Activision and Sony. [Eurogamer](https://www.eurogamer.net/microsoft-ceo-very-confident-activision-blizzard-acquisition-will-be-approved)) “I think the deal can and will go through, but this is wildly disingenuous regarding what we’re even talking about,” he said on [Sony](https://www.nme.com/brands/sony-interactive-entertainment), which he considers to be the biggest, has also made a series of major acquisitions including [Returnal](https://www.nme.com/games/returnal) developer [Housemarque](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/housemarque-will-make-even-bigger-and-even-more-ambitious-games-2982040), esports platform [Repeat.gg](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/playstation-acquires-esports-platform-repeat-gg-3272499), [Firesprite](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/sony-acquires-uk-developer-firesprite-for-first-party-playstation-studios-3040594) as well as [Destiny](https://www.nme.com/games/destiny-2) studio [Bungie](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/sony-says-bungie-acquisition-is-a-major-step-in-its-multiplatform-work-3229191). [[Xbox](https://www.nme.com/tag/xbox) boss] Phil Spencer brought this into the public forum,” Ryan said. [£50billion deal](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/microsoft-acquires-call-of-duty-publisher-activision-blizzard-3140613) was first announced back in January but earlier this month, [the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) voiced concerns](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-faces-increased-scrutiny-in-uk-3302477) that the merger may “harm rivals” and “damage competition.” [Microsoft](https://www.nme.com/brands/microsoft) CEO Satya Nadella has said the company is “very, very confident” that its merger with [Activision Blizzard](https://www.nme.com/brands/activision-blizzard) will go ahead. “After almost 20 years of Call Of Duty on PlayStation, their proposal was inadequate on many levels and failed to take account of the impact on our gamers. [ follows on from the probe the CMA launched in July](https://www.nme.com/news/gaming-news/uk-antitrust-enforcer-is-probing-microsofts-activision-blizzard-acquisition-3263146). [Bloomberg](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-22/microsoft-ceo-is-confident-about-activision-deal-approval-handling-of-economy), Nadella said: “Of course, any acquisition of this size will go through scrutiny but we feel very, very confident that we’ll come out.” Man, I think the deal can and will go through, but this is wildly disingenuous regarding what we’re even talking about. Due to this, the CMA is considering “an in-depth Phase 2 investigation,” which involves bringing on an independent panel of experts to explore the concerns and potential risks in more detail.