Being the most interested party in disrupting the deal between Xbox and Activision Blizzard, Sony Interactive Entertainment received from lawyers Microsoft US court summons.
PlayStation representatives were invited to officially convey their position to the court and tell in detail how they build their business, negotiate exclusives with game developers, and what plans they are currently implementing.
Sony responded that it was not opposed to appearing in court, however, complained that Microsoft wants to know too much, which causes concern for the PlayStation team..
Specifically, Microsoft requested management attestation data from Sony Interactive Entertainment over the past 11 years, which PlayStation lawyers called “open persecution“.
“Even in labor law cases, courts first require specific evidence of the value of providing certain personal files before approving requests for them. And we do not have an employment law case here,” complained Sony.
In response, Microsoft said that Sony “only delays the process”.
“So far there are no documents even on Jim Ryan, the current head of the PlayStation.”
Sony explained that Microsoft has sent it 45 document requests relating to virtually every aspect of Sony Interactive Entertainment’s business..
Sony will have to spend $ 2 million to prepare only part of these documents..
“Microsoft is also interested in extensive data on sales, finances and even personal data of PlayStation users (date of birth of the user, country, gender; probably millions of people).”
Microsoft insists that Sony must be fully responsible for itself in court, since this story directly affects it.
“Sony Interactive Entertainment, whose gaming business has overshadowed the Xbox for 20 years, is no accidental participant in this dispute. She spent a lot of money convincing regulators in the US and other countries to block our deal with Activision Blizzard..
And Sony’s efforts are bearing fruit: the FTC’s verdict on the lawsuit is replete with allegations about the implications of the deal for the PlayStation business. So this case is about Sony as much as it is about Xbox and Activision.. Therefore, the timely submission of documents from Sony is critical to building Microsoft’s defense,” Microsoft insists in its appeal to the court.
A full trial on the deal in the United States may not begin until August, but for now the parties are preparing for it. However, interaction with the court has already begun — Sony and Microsoft send their complaints and comments directly to a federal judge.
There is a possibility of a pre-trial settlement of the situation, but its prospects are still very vague.
Nevertheless, Bobby Kotick is optimistic.
Read also: It’s official: Nintendo won’t raise the price of all its new games below $70.