Independent game developers have expressed their support for Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion. Among the developers who have voiced their opinions on the matter are Curve Games, Finji, Iam8bit, and Strange Scaffold. Their comments have been submitted to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s case against Microsoft.
One of the main advantages of this acquisition, mentioned by the group of independent developers, is the potential inclusion of the Call of Duty series in Microsoft’s Game Pass service. Developers are confident that such a move will increase the popularity of Game Pass and ultimately benefit independent game creators in the market. Expanding the Game Pass subscriber base would allow a larger number of players to discover and try out independent games that they might otherwise ignore. Increased interest would not only benefit independent games available in Game Pass, but could also lead to greater success beyond this subscription service.
The brief submitted to the court also presented examples of the positive impact Game Pass has had on independent games. For example, Iam8bit’s Escape Academy attracted 1.5 million users through the Game Pass service, while Curve Games’ title Human Fall Flat accumulated 14.2 million players.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard has faced numerous regulatory obstacles. Detailed information on this can be found in our comprehensive introduction.
Definitions:
– Independent game developers: Independent video game creators who develop games without financial support from major publishers.
– Activision Blizzard: A large video game company with popular franchises, including Call of Duty.
– Game Pass: Microsoft’s subscription service offering a library of games for a monthly fee.
