PlayStation Showcase Allegedly Delayed Due to Activision-Blizzard Acquisition

A series of Tweets by a known media analyst allegedly reveals that the next PlayStation showcase is delayed to the Activision-Blizzard acquisition by Microsoft.

PlayStation Showcase Allegedly Delayed

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The ongoing CMA investigation for MS acquisition of AB, has indeed delayed any Showcase plans for Sony. Exclusive titles and first party I.P were ‘locked in’. Sony believe a showcase will add weight to MS arguments. Silent Hill & Kojima Who Am I reveal were part of show.

— Millie A (@millieamand) October 17, 2022

Entertainment media data analyst Millie Amand has published a small series of Tweets which allegedly revealed a PlayStation Showcase being planned for 20th October 2022. However, those plans have apparently been delayed due to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

It is said that Sony doesn’t want to draw attention to upcoming PS5 exclusive games as it could add more weight to Microsoft’s recent response to UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). In case you missed it, Microsoft claimed that Sony is exaggerating the importance of the Call of Duty franchise, and that PlayStation’s standing in the console gaming market is higher than the Xbox brand.

According to Millie Amand, UK’s CMA made an official statement on the existence of a real threat to open competition in the console gaming market due to the Activision Blizzard acquisition. As a result, this apparently convinced Sony to not do a PlayStation Showcase as originally planned.

At the moment, UK’s CMA is starting their second phase of the investigation behind the acquisition, and Sony is allegedly doing everything in their power to prevent the deal from happening. Previously, it was reported that PlayStation boss Jim Ryan flew to Brussels last month to meet with EU regulators over concerns of the acquisition.

As it stands, Microsoft will require 20 approvals form different completion regulations across the globe in order for the deal to go through. They have already earned it from Saudi Arabia and Brazil, but there’s still a long way to go. It’s worth noting that if it does succeed, Microsoft has promised to keep Call of Duty accessible for all PlayStation users for several years, even beyond the contracted agreement between Sony and Activision.

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Pokdepinion: Didn’t think it would actually affect the showcase but to be fair, nothing has been officially confirmed. There’s certainly something interesting brewing behind the scenes, that’s for sure.