“Nothing could be further from the truth.”

Microsoft and Sony have been in a months-long back-and-forth over Microsoft’s proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition and the issue ofCall Of Dutyexclusivity, and they’re not done yet. In aseries of tweetspublished last Friday, Microsoft’s chief communications officer Frank X. Shaw said Sony were “briefing people in Brussels claiming Microsoft is unwilling to offer them parity for Call of Duty if we acquire Activision," but added that “Nothing could be further from the truth.” I would have thought that a legal venue would be a more appropriate place to air these grievances, but I suppose this gets the job done quicker. Either way, it’s a toffee popcorn-worthy accusation in the ongoing drama.

“We’ve been clear we’ve offered Sony a 10-year deal to give them parity,” said Shaw in afollow-up tweet. “We’ve also said we’re happy to make this enforceable through a contract, regulatory agreements, or other means.”

The 10-year deal was likely an attempt to appease regulators who cite CoD exclusivity as a potential problem with Microsoft’s deal. Nintendo have signed a different 10-year deal, though I doubt that one’s about parity since, y’know, CoD doesn’t exist on Nintendo systems yet.Valve’s Gabe Newellalso refused to sign, but that was because he didn’t believe in “requiring any partner to have an agreement that locks them.”

I hear Sony is briefing people in Brussels claiming Microsoft is unwilling to offer them parity for Call of Duty if we acquire Activision.Nothing could be further from the truth.1/4

Exclusivity arguments definitely won’t affect PC players, since MS is cool with simultaneous PC releases. But, these discussions might be the difference between an approval or a denial for Microsoft’s ActiBlizzard buyout. The US Federal Trade Commission have already moved toblock the deal, and theirreasoningmentions the Xbox-exclusive status ofRedfallandStarfield. As for the “people in Brussels” mentioned in Shaw’s Twitter thread, this is likely the EU antitrust body who have an April 12th deadline on whether they’ll approve Microsoft’s $69 billion buyout, and it’s currently looking like athumbs down.

Microsoft had hoped to complete its takeover of ActiBlizzard by the end of its fiscal year in June, but the FTC’s hearings are set for August,potentially delayingthe buyout. One way or another, we’ll find out the results by the end of the year.