It seems PlayStation and Google are united in their resistance to Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition plans.

Last month, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO and PlayStation boss Jim Ryan reportedly flew to the EU headquarters in Brussels to voice his concerns to regulators. Ryan has publicly expressed his displeasure about the $68.7 billion deal multiple times, focusing on Microsoft’s alleged attempt to undermine Call of Duty’s future on PlayStation consoles.

When the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority recently announced its intention to conduct a second-phase investigation into the deal, Sony made a point of declaring its approval:

By giving Microsoft control of Activision games like Call of Duty, this deal would have major negative implications for gamers and the future of the gaming industry,” it claimed.

“We want to guarantee PlayStation gamers continue to have the highest quality gaming experience, and we appreciate the CMA’s focus on protecting gamers.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is also facing opposition from a different market sector. Google has also reportedly spoken to EU regulators about the acquisition, and has also had multiple interactions with Brazilian antitrust body CADE in this regard.

It’s unknown what Google stands to gain here, as the legendary Google-Microsoft rivalry has always been limited to the IT and innovation spheres. Google recently announced plans to shut down Stadia in January 2023, thus exiting the gaming market altogether.

The EU has confirmed that it plans to either clear the deal by November 8 or to otherwise launch a more detailed investigation into the matter.

We’ll keep our readers updated with any new developments.

Source: Dealreporter (paywalled), Seeking Alpha