Will Xbox CEO Phil Spencer Employ Sony’s Exclusivity Strategies Against Them Following the Acquisition of Activision Blizzard?

Jun 28, 2023 | 7:59 AM EDT

Will Xbox CEO Phil Spencer Employ Sony’s Exclusivity Strategies Against Them Following the Acquisition of Activision Blizzard?

Jun 28, 2023 | 7:59 AM EDT

The FTC vs Microsoft case has become a gold mine of information for gaming fans. Xbox makers are currently trying to justify their attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. The FTC, however, has blocked this acquisition for anti-trust issues. They claim Microsoft will take the user base of Activision games like Call of Duty to their own consoles.

During the recent hearing of the case, however, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer came forward to give his company’s strategy. He emphasized that they have turned their heads away from Sony’s exclusivity strategy.

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Xbox CEO denies using exclusivity strategy in the future for third-party games

During the proceedings of the five-day case, Phil Spencer boldly denied his company’s plans of using Sony’s exclusivity strategy. Spencer went on to talk about Xbox’s relationship with Sony. While on the one hand, both studios cordially coordinate with each other on big titles like Minecraft, on the other, Sony snatches up third-party exclusivity deals to affect Xbox. This behavior has made Microsoft see Sony as a “hostile and aggressive” competitor.

But Spencer has explicitly mentioned they will not be using Sony’s strategy, especially after the merger. Spencer stated the resources gained from it will be disposed to expand their presence in the mobile gaming market. The studio will not be making Activision’s magnum opus Call of Duty exclusive to their consoles, as doing so will lead to losses.

It is a noteworthy fact all these statements from Spencer are in regard to third-party titles. Microsoft fully intends to make some first-party titles exclusive to their consoles, like the Xbox Series X\S. Spencer also promised that games like Minecraft and Elder Scrolls Online, which were first third-party but became first-party post-merger, will remain on PlayStation consoles.

But new first-party titles will become Xbox exclusives. The latest example of this will be MachineGames’ new project, Indiana Jones. Xbox reached out to Disney to alter the terms of their contract with ZeniMax post-merger. However, how true will Xbox remains on its words will be known post-merger. What are your thoughts on Xbox denying using Sony’s exclusivity strategy ever in the future? Let us know in the comments section below.

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Written by

Ajitesh Rawat

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Ajitesh Rawat is a WNBA and College Basketball Writer at EssentiallySports, where he leads the outlet’s Strategy Desk. With a research-driven approach and a reader-first mindset shaped during his stint as a Content Analyst, he covers the mechanics of the game with depth and precision. From injury reports and roster depth charts to player trades and transfer portal moves, Ajitesh brings clarity to the decisions that shape outcomes. Known for highlighting under-covered talent across the women’s game, his reporting has also earned him a spot in ES’ Journalistic Excellence Program. Beyond basketball, Ajitesh’s versatility has seen him spearhead LPGA and LIV Golf coverage while contributing to esports and FPS gaming guides, a reflection of his background as both a game developer and digital strategist. That unique blend of technical expertise and editorial instinct allows him to navigate fast-moving sports landscapes while connecting fans to the tactical and cultural undercurrents driving the games they love.

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Jayant Chhabra