Sony, while opposing Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard on the grounds that it would harm competition in the gaming industry, is also reportedly preventing certain third-party games from launching on Xbox consoles.

According to Microsoft, games such as Final Fantasy 16, Bloodborne, and the Silent Hill 2 Remake will never be released on Xbox because Sony has pressured their developers to exclude Xbox from their platforms.

In response to the UK government’s investigation of the Activision Blizzard deal, Microsoft argues that while exclusive partnerships are not uncommon, some arrangements are detrimental to developers and gamers. They cite Sony’s agreements with third-party publishers as examples of these harmful arrangements, specifically naming Final Fantasy VII Remake, Bloodborne, Final Fantasy XVI, and Silent Hill 2 Remake as games that will not be released on Xbox due to Sony’s exclusionary practices.

These comments, which were made in an effort to convince competition authorities that Sony is not a neutral party in the gaming industry, were noticed by Korea Xbox News. Microsoft is attempting to show that Sony’s actions are anti-competitive and detrimental to the gaming industry.

Microsoft has also pledged to keep the popular game Call of Duty on all major platforms for at least ten years as part of their effort to secure the $70 billion takeover. The company argues that this will maintain a level playing field for all gamers and protect the interests of consumers. However, the ongoing effort by the US government to block the deal may render this pledge unnecessary.

In summary, Microsoft has accused Sony of mandating that developers exclude Xbox from their platforms, preventing popular games such as Final Fantasy 16 and Bloodborne from being released on Xbox consoles. Microsoft has used this as evidence of Sony’s anti-competitive practices in an attempt to sway the UK government’s decision on the Activision Blizzard deal. The company has also pledged to keep Call of Duty on all major platforms for at least ten years, but the outcome of the US government’s efforts to block the deal remains uncertain.