PlayStation and Xbox Top Executives to Testify in Court Regarding FTC Case
Activision’s deal is in its final stages of completion (hopefully), and this week, the top executives from PlayStation and Xbox are set to testify in court for FTC’s case against the merger.
As of now, the deal has been blocked temporarily on the basis of FTC’s injunction to block the acquisition. Now, top executives from Microsoft will reportedly defend against the motion.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, along with Phil Spencer and other senior officials, will reportedly appear in court to defend the deal. The outcome of this could really have a major impact on Microsoft’s long-term goals and the growth of the gaming industry as a whole, as it’ll be sort of a make, or break.
We do know how Microsoft have said that if things go south, the deal could possibly be done and dusted, and that is exactly why it’s too important. To make matters even worse, since the deadline for the Activision agreement is July 18, the proceedings surely would hold a feeling of urgency and stress to the approaching date.
Like mentioned earlier, if the injunction holds, Microsoft will be unable to complete the acquisition until the FTC’s initial legal challenge from last year is addressed.
Alongside Xbox officials, PlayStation boss Jim Ryan is scheduled to testify via video link to address market competitiveness, further complicating matters. Sony, which has been a strong critic of the merger, has decided not to send a representative to the trial in San Francisco.
On June 21st, a preliminary hearing will be held, and then on June 22nd, 23rd, 27th, 28th, and 29th, the main hearing will take place. To help the court better understand how the purchase can affect market competition, both parties will have the chance to present their arguments, and evidence during these sessions.
Microsoft has previously also offered that it is prepared to submit its case in federal court and would like to do so as soon as possible. Microsoft’s President, Brad Smith has said that:
We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court. We believe accelerating the legal process in the US will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market.”
With hearings set to commence from today, it’ll surely be interesting to see how things pan out. Till then, we will make sure to keep you updated on all developments as new information becomes available.
