Print this page
Published in News

Microsoft’s “favourite politician” declares war on Sony

by on24 March 2023


Only it appears more of a “special operation” than a war

The woman who is probably Microsoft’s most “lobbied” politician Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell waded into Volish arch nemeses Sony.

Cantwell who represents the state of Washington weighed in on the Activision-Blizzard deal which is being stuffed up by Sony intrigues.

While it is fair enough for you to stand up for your constituents, it might have been wiser for Cantwell to have been supplied by some Volish facts before she started talking.

During a Senate finance committee hearing on "The President's 2023 Trade Policy Agenda", Cantwell stated that “Sony controls a monopoly of 98 per cent of the high-end game market, yet Japan’s government has allowed Sony to engage in blatant anti-competitive conduct through exclusive deals and payments to game publishers, establishing games that are among the most popular in Japan."

The figure had many game watchers scratching their heads. It is supposed to refer to Sony's adoption rate over Microsoft in Sony's home region of Japan. But it is silly to suggest Sony has some kind of monopoly on the Japanese game market but it doesn’t even have a 98 per cent share of the God of War market, a series they own, since Steam is getting a third of every PC sale.

Nevertheless, Cantwell slammed Japan's Federal Trade Commission for failing to investigate this alleged "exclusionary conduct" properly, she asked US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, "What do you think we can do to address these issues and create a level playing field?"

Sad really, Microsoft has contributed more than half a million dollars to Cantwell's political career over the past two decades, and it should be expecting a better defence of its takeover from her.

 

Last modified on 24 March 2023
Rate this item
(4 votes)