This will no doubt be a controversial decisiveness with Xbox fans who have suggested that Microsoft does n’t have a significant advantage over brands such as PlayStation , but I personally think the CMA was correct to block Microsoft ’s deal with Activision , especially since the CMA has foreground the swarm gaming market as its main concern .
It ’s soft to make the argument that Xbox is n’t the competition drawing card when it comes to console table . ThePS5has stronger sale than theXbox Series Xafter all . You could make the argument that Microsoft has the upper hand for the long - term hereafter following the acquisition of Bethesda , with exclusive rights for games such The Elder Scrolls , Doom and Fallout probable to have an impact on future console sales , but it ’s all ifs and buts at this decimal point .
There ’s absolutely no question that Microsoft is the contention loss leader for cloud play via Game Pass . TheCMA reportsthat Microsoft “ already calculate for an forecast 60 - 70 % of global cloud play service . ”
It ’s also important to remember that Microsoft owns Windows and Azure ( a global swarm computer science infrastructure ) and so it has a key vantage over any competition that wish to challenge Game Pass .
There is n’t any other swarm - streaming overhaul that comes close to the popularity of Game Pass either . Nvidia ’s GeForce Nowis a notable contender , which has over 20 million users ( as of 2022 ) but the primal difference here is that GeForce Now has a free level and does n’t offer up a game library as part of the subscription like Game Pass .
To find a cloud streaming service with a standardized model to Game Pass , you ’d have to look at eitherAmazon Luna(which only recently lucubrate outside of the US ) or the now defunct Google Stadiawhich only had 2 million participating usersin February 2022 .
Microsoft is already in a position of forcefulness when it come up to cloud gaming , and acquiring Activision Blizzard would only fortify its position at the top . Call of Duty : Modern Warfare 2was thehighest selling plot of 2022 in the US , andsecond highest selling game in the UK , only behindFIFA 23 .
If Call of Duty were to become a Game Pass undivided , it ’s hard to envisage any other company being able to contend with Microsoft . Even Amazon and Google , two of the biggest tech company in the world , struggled to compete , and that ’s forget the many other popular game under the Activision Blizzard umbrella . Other major franchises include Overwatch , Crash Bandicoot , World of Warcraft and more .
Many may argue that having all of these unlike game franchises box into a single cloud - stream subscription would in reality provide better value for single gamers – Game Pass is a lot more affordable than buy multiple games each class .
As theCMA aim outhowever , Microsoft would have the incentive to increase the toll of Game Pass following an learning of Activision , and with no serious competitor , Microsoft does n’t really have to worry about gamers looking elsewhere for cloud streaming . It could hike up its prices as high as it wanted without consequence .
Chair of the independent gore of experts conduct the CMA ’s investigation , Martin Coleman , enounce : “ Microsoft already enjoys a powerful position and head bulge over other competitors in cloud gambling and this deal would tone that advantage throw it the ability to undermine new and innovative competitors . ”
It ’s difficult to argue with that . The intense contention between PlayStation and Xbox has fuelled plentitude of innovation over the year , from a groovy energy in better the quality of first - political party games to haemorrhage - edge computer hardware . The beingness of both a PlayStation and Xbox has also helped to keep the price of the consoles more affordable , undercut the price of exchangeable - specced PC by a significant security deposit .
It ’s important that Xbox has that level of contention for its cloud - stream service too , but right now , no other service come close to Game Pass and as controversial as the conclusion may be , I believe it ’s correct for the CMA to protect competition for the emerging cloud - teem market .
