Sony email just blew its argument against Microsoft wide open

Jim Ryan, CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, did not expect PlayStation to be locked out of Activision-Blizzard games if the publisher was purchased by rival Microsoft.

In a series of internal emails between Ryan and Chris Deering, Sony Computer Entertainment's former CEO, shared as part of the Federal Trade Commission hearing against the acquisition, Ryan said "it is not an exclusivity play at all".

Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard not about exclusives - Sony

“They’re thinking bigger than that and they have the cash to make moves like this. I’ve spent a fair amount of time with both Phil [Spencer] Bobby [Kotick] over the past day and I’m pretty sure we will continue to see Call of Duty on PlayStation for many years to come,” Ryan said, as reported by The Verge.

Why is that surprising? Put simply, Sony's publically-facing concern has been one of the removal of Activision-Blizzard titles such as Overwatch, Diablo, or Call of Duty from its storefronts should the acquisition go through.

Sony had previously suggested Microsoft could look to release lesser versions of games on PlayStation hardware, strip back features, or simply make the titles exclusive to Xbox or PC.

The timing of the email is shortly before the announcement of Sony's acquisition of Bungie, itself formerly a Microsoft-owned studio.

Seemingly referring to the deal, Ryan's email says "We have some good stuff cooking", noting that he was “I’m not complacent, and I’d rather this hadn’t happened, but we’ll be OK, we’ll be more than OK.”

In a statement to The Verge, David Cuddy, GM of public affairs at Microsoft said:

“Today showed Sony has known all along we’ll stand by our promise to keep games on its platform and made clear its work to lobby against the deal is only to protect its dominant position in the market."

It's been an explosive few days for the hearing, with Jim Ryan labelling Game Pass as "destructive" and Activision-Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick's demands for revenue splits for Call of Duty.