Microsoft Sony is reportedly blocking games from coming to Xbox Microsoft claimed that Final Fantasy 16 and Silent Hill 2, among other games, were blocked from being released on Xbox platforms due to exclusivity agreements with Sony. Both Final Fantasy 16 and Silent Hill 2 have been announced exclusively for PlayStation. However, the express ban on Xbox support as part of the contract, and the length of the ban, provides more context for the situation. Needless to say, Xbox gamers were disappointed with this news. The subject is highly debated due to the ongoing process of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The US Federal Trade Commission has said it will try to block the deal, making the situation much more hostile to Microsoft and Sony, who are lobbying internationally to block the purchase. Microsoft also oversees the UK CMA and discusses the status of many exclusive games as part of its programmes.
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Microsoft is said to have blocked Sony's Games from coming to Xbox. Microsoft's response to the UK CMA in October highlights a statement that wasn't initially included. In part of Microsoft's letter to the CMA, it claims that the acquisition had "no anti-competitive impact." To prove it, he explains that Sony currently "has more flagship games than Microsoft, and most of them are of higher quality." The idea is that even Activision Blizzard's big acquisition is Microsoft trying to catch up with Sony.
As part of this notice, Microsoft lists some "stunning examples" of Sony's third-party exclusivity agreements. Lists Final Fantasy 7 remakes, Bloodborne, Final Fantasy 16, and Silent Hill 2 remakes. Microsoft describes these third-party partnerships as excluding Xbox from publishers' distribution plans.
While the exclusion period for each game from Xbox platforms is not specified, the claim suggests it will be indefinite. Two examples, Bloodborne and Final Fantasy 7, have been available for some time and have not been brought to Xbox. Silent Hill 2 was previously reported to have 12 months of exclusivity, but it will take a year to truly confirm this.
