More information on various video game companies and studios was unveiled during today’s hearing for the FTC v. Microsoft case. Jim Ryan, CEO of PlayStation, revealed quite a bit of information today during said hearing, with one of his statements claiming that Activision had actually helped work on the PS5 controller’s haptics development.

Ryan stated during the hearing that Xbox’s popularity in the West is due to online multiplayer and shooter games finding success in the region, especially in the US. He also mentioned that Sony originally expected The Elder Scrolls 6 (which won’t come out for at least five years) and Starfield to be made available on PlayStation, though this changed following the ZeniMax acquisition.

Sony’s Jim Ryan says they expected Elders Scroll 6 and Starfield to be available on PlayStation, but heard after Microsoft acquisition closed, they wouldn’t be

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 27, 2023

Of the various statements that Ryan made during the hearing, two stood out. For one, the CEO revealed that Activision had actually worked on the PS5’s DualSense controllers’ haptic feedback, and that such a collaboration is only made possible when developers are not owned by a competitor. Ryan also mentioned an email that Xbox head Phil Spencer had sent to him in August last year, which apparently “set off alarm bells” on Xbox’s actions following the approval of the ABK acquisition had it gone through.

Jim Ryan says an email sent to him from Phil Spencer in August last year “set of alarm bells” about what Xbox may do if ABK deal is approved

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 27, 2023

Ryan was apparently dissatisfied with Spencer and his lack of commitment, citing Overwatch 2 not being on the list of games that Xbox would keep on PlayStation. And while he didn’t believe that Starfield’s and Redfall’s exclusivity wasn’t “anti-competitive,” he did believe that Microsoft would use Call of Duty to “damage” PlayStation somehow.

“I believe they’re going to use Call of Duty to damage us somehow” – Jim Ryan

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 27, 2023

Interestingly enough, Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick had actually approached Ryan earlier this year in February in order to make a deal for Call of Duty and other games to stay on the PlayStati platform, though Ryan told Kotick that he preferred if the regulators did their job instead to block the deal entirely. Ryan closed his testimony during the hearing by stating that video game publishers don’t like the Xbox Game Pass due to its “destructive” value.

Jim Ryan says its a belief amongst video game publishers don’t like Xbox Game Pass because its value is destructive

— CharlieIntel (@charlieINTEL) June 27, 2023

What do you think of Jim Ryan’s statements? Let us know in the comments below!

Thanks, CharlieINTEL!