In September, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said he was confident about making the company’s proposed $69 billion Activision Blizzard acquisition possible. Now, the CEO appears to have changed his mind, saying the world’s largest software company will continue its path in the gaming industry even if the merger doesn’t happen.
In an interview with CNBC on Thursday, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was asked about the company’s plans once the deal is completed. Just like his previous appearances and statements, Nadella said Microsoft wants to bring its services and products to different platforms to prevent adverse effects on competition in the market.
“Microsoft is not a cross-industry conglomerate, and our whole goal is to bring more choice to gamers so they can play [on every platform] and give game publishers more room to compete,” Nadella told CNBC.
Nonetheless, after being asked about the merger not becoming a reality, he didn’t hold back from sharing his thoughts in case that possibility happens in the future.” We’ve been in the gaming space for decades,” Nadella said.” We will continue to move forward in the gaming space.”
While the above scenario is a small possibility, it’s hard to deny that Microsoft’s journey to closing the deal looks to be a long and rocky road. In addition to ongoing investigations by regulators around the world (and a deeper probe begun by the European Union), the true motives for the deal are now being questioned by the Swedish state-run pension fund, which has filed a lawsuit over it. According to Sjunde AP-Fonden, the “hastily negotiated” low-ball $69 billion deal was achieved through Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, who has been looking for a way to get out from under his scandalous leadership. Microsoft is also being sued for exploiting the “fragile and wounded” state of the previously unbeatable gaming giant. Then there’s Sony, which won’t stop protesting the merger because of concerns over Call of Duty.
Microsoft gaming CEO and Xbox chief Phil Spencer, seemingly fed up with Sony’s relentless opposition, once again made it clear that Call of Duty would remain on PlayStation, but not with the word “forever” written into the contract.
