Sony CEO Jim Ryan Testifies on Cloud Gaming, Call of Duty, and Starfield in Ongoing FTC vs Microsoft Case

According to Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, cloud gaming is unlikely to become a substantial part of the gaming industry for several years, possibly not until 2035. He voiced his concerns that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard could lead to Call of Duty being used to disadvantage PlayStation, driving gamers to Xbox and its Game Pass platform. Ryan emphasized that the current agreement for Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles expires at the end of 2025 and expressed concerns about the potential impact on Sony's business if Call of Duty becomes exclusive to Xbox. The hearing is part of the FTC's review of Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which has been blocked by the UK's competition regulator pending appeal. Ryan also discussed the differences between Microsoft and Activision's incentives, with Microsoft being a platform holder and Activision being a publisher. He further clarified that Nintendo, while a console seller, is not a direct competitor to Sony in the console market.