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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