Microsoft has, according to its own account, tried to get its subscription game service onto PlayStation consoles but Sony has "chosen to block Game Pass", the company wrote in court filings to the UK's CMA.
After its feud with Apple to get Xbox Game Pass onto Apple TV, iPad and iPhone, Microsoft is criticizing Sony for also blocking its subscription game service.
The comments came in response to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority's scrutiny of Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- "Nor is there any basis for the idea that acquiring Call of Duty could 'tip' subscription services in Xbox's favour. Sony has chosen to block Game Pass from PlayStation, so it is not available on PlayStation. As all games that are available on Game Pass are also available to purchase, PlayStation gamers will continue to have the ability to buy Call of Duty on PlayStation. And doing so will still cost less than the cost of switching by buying a new Xbox console," wrote Microsoft.
Xbox Game Pass is available on other platforms such as Samsung Tizen (2022)
Digital stores
Both Microsoft and Sony are attempting to move gamers into the digital domain with digital purchases and subscriptions that they control. For example, nearly 80% of all PS5 and PS4 games bought today are digital versions while only 20% are discs that can be resold or lent out.
Like Apple's iPhone, console makers sell games through their own app store and take a cut of revenue which is reportedly 30%. Consoles currently offer media apps that compete with their own media services but not competing game services.
Meanwhile, Sony has complained to competition watchdogs about Microsoft's vague promises to keep one of the biggest gaming franchises today, Call of Duty, available on PlayStation in case the acquisition of Activision Blizzard passes.
PlayStation has remained the largest console platform for over 20 years with an installed base of over 150 million consoles, double the size of Xbox, according to Microsoft.
- Source: twitter
