Microsofthas recently filed its response to the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit preventing the software company from acquiringActivision-Blizzard,CNBC has reported. Over the course of 37 pages, Microsoft rehashed its previous arguments, including claiming it has no desire to makeCall of Dutyexclusive toXboxwhile also taking aim at the FTC directly.
Microsoft’s acquisitions have stirred controversy over the past few years. One of the most pressing concerns among gamers and regulators is fear of Microsoft controlling most of gaming’s most lucrative franchises. Recently, it was announced that in addition tothe FTC suing Microsoft, 10 gamers were suing as well, all to prevent the continued rapid growth of the software giant.
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While EU regulators showed concernover the merger, Microsoft had hoped US-based agencies would be kinder. Yet the FTC was swift in filing an antitrust suit, and in response, the company took issue with the fact the agency internally appoints the judges that decide the validity of its cases. Microsoft also took aim atSony, suggesting that its top competitor is a market leader that hinders innovation and disrupts consumer choice.
Activision-Blizzard’s presidentwill leave next year, perhaps to dodge the legal drama unfolding around the company as Microsoft battles for control. In response to the FTC, the software company called the agency unconstitutional, stating that it’s an independent agency wielding enormous powers and violating Article 2 of the US Constitution and the separation of powers. To look cooperative, Microsoft stated it will only make three future Zenimax titles exclusive to Xbox and PC.
Call of Duty and other online titles will continue to be supported over a wide range of platforms because of their community nature, according to the response. The company says that exclusive Xbox and PC titles will be primarily single-player.
Some gamers may be too young to remember, but in 2001 a prior antitrust suit led to the resignation of Bill Gates as CEO. During that suit, regulators determined that Microsoft purposefully throttled the performance of the Netscape Internet browser on Windows in order to encourage users to only adopt its own Internet Explorer option.
