It’s been claimed by Insider Gaming sources that Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has implied that the company doesn’t view Xbox Game Pass as competition, despite the company expressing concerns about Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
One source, who wishes to remain anonymous because they couldn’t speak about their knowledge of the information publically has said that Jim Ryan had an employee Q&A earlier this month, where he talked about market competition.
In response to a question about Xbox Game Pass, Jim Ryan reportedly said that “When we consider Game Pass, it seems to be getting lower [Game Pass numbers]. When we consider Game Pass, we’ve sold more PS5’s in two years than they have gathered subscribers and they’ve been doing that for 6-7 years.”
Ryan reportedly continued “We’re just shy of 50 million subscribers and they are in the low 20s, but there’s more work to do to grow that number”.
Ryan’s reported comments are somewhat surprising when the company is currently battling Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which Sony argues is “bad for competition, bad for the gaming industry, and bad for gamers themselves”, (via Reuters).
Sony’s concerns have led the UK’s Competition Markets Authority (CMA) to investigate the acquisition, as well as the FTC trying to block the deal.
In response to the concerns, Microsoft offered Nintendo, Steam, and Sony a 10-year deal to keep Call of Duty on their respective platforms and said that several popular titles will remain on the PlayStation platform forever.
Microsoft anticipates that the deal will be finalized in 2023, but nothing is yet guaranteed.
What do you think of alleged Sony’s comments on Xbox Game Pass?
For more Insider Gaming news, check out our coverage of the new God of War television series, coming soon.
Actions speak louder than words. Limiting games from Gamepass and creating PS+ tiers to be more like Gamepass say they do consider it competition.
Very weak. If he isn’t afraid of Game Pass then why is he paying publishers like Squere, WB, Capcom and Activision to keep their games off of Game Pass? He’s hypocrite and bad for gamers.
?Jim Lying Ryan, went Flying to Brussels, Crying about Call of Duty, stop freakin’ Lying!”? Sing along!
Then why is he bribing companies to keep their games off gamepass. No he is deathly afraid of gamepass.
Sony is full of it call of duty may be high end but that’s not the only game people buy and play Sony has multiple games that’s only for Sony let this deal go through I doubt sony will be affected by this acquisition if at all
I think Sony is full of it. If Sony want concerned, they wouldn’t be fighting this acquisition of Activision so hard. Sony started the exclusive war years ago. Now with GamePass constantly aging value for subscribers they are feeling the heat and fear getting a big dose of their own medicine.
If Sony is truly unafraid they would drop this lawsuit and find a way to stand on their own two feet without Activision propping up their subscriber base.
“it’s not competition, which is why we made our own version and are barring 3rd party games from releasing on it.”
The whole thing is just weird to see puportedly the most successful platform in gaming suddenly feel weak in their knees because Xbox wants to buy Activision. Pardon me, but I thought they’d be just fine without this one studio.
Sony’s executives are a bunch if whiny bitches.
Suuuuure it’s not competition. That’s why you came out with a great value version of it and it blows
Lol how is this bad for game pass. Jim you are just protecting your company. I don’t blame you but your acting like a high school girl
Jim Ryan sounds like Blockbuster talking about Netflix.
Who the fk wants a detachable disk drive. Ooooooo wow, what a feature Sony.
My PS4 was the last Sony product I will ever own… And it happily sits in a corner collecting dust. I’ve never disliked a company more.
Jim cryin’ Ryan is crapping his pants at the Activision deal, he knows his overlords will terminate him if he doesn’t whine enough to get it blocked. XD
Ignorant.
Hahahaha. Playstation is so garbage. Anything they can do to keep their head in the sand and complain about everyone else. Customers are the least of their concern.