Microsoft President Brad Smith expressed his uncertainty about the future of console gaming during a press conference recently. When asked about potential deals that would secure Call of Duty on other platforms for the next 10 years, Smith stated that it was impossible to predict what console gaming would look like in a decade.
Unpredictable Development of the Console Gaming Market
Smith referred to the constantly changing landscape of console gaming technology and internal business structures, and added that there could be someone else in his position in 2033. Smith also referred to two newly announced deals: one that places Call of Duty on Nintendo consoles for 10 years, and another that brings all of Microsoft's games to Xbox Game Pass competitor GeForce Now.
Approval of Deals is Unclear
However, it is unclear if regulatory bodies will approve the deal. The US Federal Trade Commission has filed an ongoing lawsuit against the deal, claiming that it would allow Microsoft to suppress competitors. British regulatory bodies have similar concerns.
Microsoft cites Sony's dominant performance in the video game market as a defense. If Microsoft's purchase of Activision is successful, it will be one of the most expensive video game acquisitions of all time.
