SIE CEO Jim Ryan was present as a witness (via video) during today’s FTC v Microsoft hearing for the Preliminary Injunction (PI) against the Activision Blizzard deal.

During his testimony, PlayStation CEO, Jim Ryan revealed that he believes multiplayer and shooter games are more popular in the US compared to the rest of the world, and Xbox is popular in the US as it offers more multiplayer and shooter titles. He also revealed that he “doesn’t like” Starfield and Redfall as exclusives but “does not think they are anti-competitive.

Find the full statement with questions below:

Question: Are Xbox’s consoles more popular in the US than outside of the US?

Jim Ryan: Generally, yes. The majority of their games, many of their games, involve an element of shooting and online multiplayer. Both of which typically are more popular in the US than they are outside of US.

Question: Are shooting games more popular in US than Europe?

Jim Ryan: Typically, yes.

Question: You don’t have any issues with Redfall or Starfield being exclusive?

Jim Ryan: I don’t like it but it’s not anti-competitive.

He also adds that Sony expected Elder Scrolls 6, Starfield, and other Bethesda titles to be available on PlayStation, but found out that they wouldn’t be after the merger closed.

This explains why Sony is skeptical about the merger, as Microsoft would end up owning the biggest multiplayer shooter franchise of all time. Ryan also revealed last week that Sony would not disclose future consoles information to Activision if the merger completes.

Recently, it was revealed that Xbox Game Studios’ head Matt Booty suggested (in a 2019 email to Xbox CFO) that Microsoft was in a unique position to “spend Sony out of business.” Bethesda’s head of publishing (in 2022) also expressed his “confusion” about Call of Duty being multiplatform while Microsoft told them that Bethesda’s game will be exclusive to Xbox platforms.

Expect more updates from MP1st regarding the hearing until it finishes later this week.

Thanks, DeekeTweak