HBO’s The Last of Us has been garnering attention all over the internet, but you might not have expected the popular video game adaptation to be swept up in the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.
on TwitterActivision Blizzard CCO Lulu Cheng Meservey drew attention to the show’s success, writing, “It’s a true blockbuster, watched by tens of millions… You may be particularly interested in the fact that The Last of Us is being produced by Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation productions.”
Hi @FTC – did you watch last night’s episode of The Last of Us? It was unbelievable.
No wonder the show is breaking records. It’s a true blockbuster, watched by tens of millions.
If you haven’t already, you should check it out. You may be particularly interested in the fact that pic.twitter.com/MhcT0DmOsM
— Lulu Cheng Meservey (@lulumeservey) January 30, 2023
Meservey further argued that the success of The Last of Us and subsequent renewed interest in the video game means there is no concern that Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard would stifle competition.
“Sony has an unparalleled pool of IP, not just in gaming, but also in TV, movies and music – which can be developed into games or bring existing games to market,” Meservey continued. “It’s no wonder they continue to dominate as the market leader for consoles as well. In gaming, Sony is ‘first of us’ – and they manage just fine without the protection of the FTC.”
This is yet another example of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard knocking themselves down or boosting Sony in an effort to push through the merger. Microsoft has previously called PlayStation Too big to fail while saying Xbox has a “number of significant drawbacks” compared to its rival platforms.
