Microsoft Subpoenas Sony To Get New Info For Activision Blizzard Case

Microsoft has subpoenaed Sony for legal information to bolster its attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard.

According to VGC, as well as the court document itself, Sony filed an extension to the subpoena, which reads, “negotiations between SIE and Microsoft as to the scope of SIE’s production and a discovery schedule are ongoing.” The original subpoena was served on January 17, with a response deadline of January 20. Sony moved to extend the deadline by a week. Microsoft agreed to the extension. The document states Sony has until January 27 “to move, to limit or quash, or otherwise respond to the subpeona.”

As reporter Tom Warren pointed out on Twitter, the phrase “production and a discovery schedule” does not refer to PlayStation game production, rather to the Sony legal team’s work. Therefore, it is likely that Microsoft is looking for legal information to help build its case for acquiring Activision Blizzard.

Back in December, the Federal Trade Commission sued Microsoft over the pending merger. A recent report also stated that the EU is set to give the merger an anti-trust warning. Despite obstacles, Microsoft has continued to defend the deal, with CEO Satya Nadella saying it will create more competition in the video game industry. Competitors like Sony have spoken up against the deal. In an attempt to temper Sony’s concerns, Microsoft has offered a ten-year deal to keep Call of Duty multi-platform.