Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, is in charge of Xbox and all the game studios that Microsoft has acquired over the years. Phil came to talk to us hours before the European Commission announced an in-depth investigation into Microsoft’s proposed 68.7 billion dollar acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which makes the enormous Call of Duty series, as well as Candy Crush on phones.
So I had the chance to ask Phil: Will he make the concessions that regulators want in order to close this deal? And is the deal really just about Call of Duty, or something else? Is Microsoft committed to keep Call of Duty available on Playstation?
Phil’s a candid guy. He’s been on Decoder before. I always enjoy talking to him, and this was a fun one.
Links:
Microsoft’s Phil Spencer on the new Xbox launch - The Verge
Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion - The Verge
Why Microsoft bought Bethesda for $7.5 billion
Microsoft announces big, multistudio push to create more Xbox exclusives
Bethesda’s Starfield and Redfall have been delayed to 2023
Tech antitrust pioneer Lina Khan will officially lead the FTC
Sony says Microsoft’s Call of Duty offer was ‘inadequate on many levels’
Microsoft: Xbox game streaming console is ‘years away'
This is Microsoft’s Xbox game streaming device
Google is shutting down Stadia in January 2023 - The Verge
Razer’s Edge is one sharp-looking cloud gaming Android handheld
Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld review: terminally online
Steam Deck review: it’s not ready
Steam Deck, one month later
Tech Leaders Discuss the Metaverse’s Future | WSJ Tech Live 2022
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on the business of Windows
Microsoft partners with Meta to bring Teams, Office, Windows, and Xbox to VR
EU opens ‘in-depth investigation’ into Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition
Transcript:
https://www.theverge.com/e/23223230
Credits:
Decoder is a production of The Verge and part of the Vox Media Podcast Network.
It was produced by Creighton DeSimone and Jackie McDermott and it was edited by Callie Wright.
The Decoder music is by Breakmaster Cylinder. Our Editorial Director is Brooke Minters and our Executive Director is Eleanor Donovan.
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