Allegations of bias toward PlayStation have prompted a comment from the EU commission reviewing Microsoft's effort to acquire Activision Blizzard. A comment posted on Twitter from an EU deputy head saying the EU is working to keep Call of Duty on all platforms went viral recently. This has led fans of Microsoft, Activision, and Call of Duty to question if the EU was approaching the acquisition fairly. The criticism is loud enough, it seems, that the EU felt it was important to speak on the matter.

The tweet that started this entire controversy came from Ricardo Cardoso, the EU commission's Deputy Head of Unit Interinstitutional & Outreach Views. Cardoso posted a message saying, "The Commission is working to ensure that you will still be able to play Call of Duty on other consoles (including my PlayStation)." The foregone conclusion that the EU will force Microsoft to release Call of Duty on multiple platforms, as well as Cardoso referring to "my PlayStation," stung players that don't necessarily agree the acquisition could have negative consequences.

The EU Commission has avoided the topic of bias in its statement made to Tweaktown, however. Rather, the EU simply stated that Cardoso is not involved with the review of the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Further, it says that Cardoso was only tweeting in a personal capacity, "as indicated clearly in his Twitter profile." That's the full extent of the EU Commission's comment, though the fact that it felt necessary to make a statement at all says a lot.

To clarify: I am not involved in the assessment of the merger and don't even work in the department dealing with mergers. As is clear from my profile my comments are personal and not a Commission position, whose decision will be taken on the basis of the facts and the law.

— Ricardo Cardoso (@RCardosoEU) November 12, 2022

Cardoso has also commented on the controversy. In a follow-up to his original Twitter statement, Cardoso added that he isn't involved in the "assessment of the merger" nor does he work in the department that deals with mergers. He also repeats the EU's comment that his Twitter is for his personal comments, and he notes that in his Twitter profile.

Given the nature of the controversy and its roots within the gaming social media community, it's perhaps unsurprising that many Xbox fans still have questions. Cardoso can say it's his personal view, but his Twitter post read clearly like he was issuing an official comment. And while Cardoso may not be involved with the acquisition, the commission not making clear whether what he said is accurate or not leaves much to the imagination.

Controversy aside, the EU continues to review Microsoft's effort to acquire Activision Blizzard. Both Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, and PlayStation boss Jim Ryan have traveled to Brussels for interviews and comments on the topic. And, at least for the foreseeable future, no conclusion to the review has yet been scheduled. Activision Blizzard's acquisition remains in limbo.



Posted: Nov 16, 2022 12:49 pm
Related Forum: PlayStation Forum

Source: https://gamerant.com/playstation-bias-accusations-response-eu-commission-activision-blizzard-acquisition/