The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued a subpoena to Steve Singer, the Vice President of publisher and developer relations at Nintendo of America, requesting him to provide testimony on the 10-year licensing deal between Nintendo and Microsoft to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms. The deal was signed on December 6th, 2022, and Singer was responsible for the discussions between the two companies. The subpoena reportedly demands Singer to testify for up to seven hours. The FTC’s investigation is related to the Microsoft-Activision merger and its potential effects on competition in the gaming industry.
Details of the Nintendo-Microsoft deal and the Activision merger
The 10-year licensing deal between Nintendo and Microsoft will bring Call of Duty, one of the most popular first-person shooter franchises, to Nintendo platforms. However, the specific details of the deal have not been disclosed. The deal was signed just a few weeks before the announcement of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the publisher of the Call of Duty franchise, in a deal worth $68.7 billion. The acquisition is expected to be completed in 2023, subject to regulatory approval. The FTC’s subpoena of Steve Singer is related to the Nintendo-Microsoft deal, rather than the Microsoft-Activision merger itself.
FTC’s involvement in the situation
The FTC is a government agency responsible for enforcing laws related to competition and commerce. The agency is investigating the potential impact of the Microsoft-Activision merger on competition in the gaming industry. The subpoena of Steve Singer is part of the agency’s efforts to gather more information on the licensing deal between Nintendo and Microsoft for Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms.
Nintendo’s response to the subpoena
Nintendo has tried to get the subpoena dismissed, calling it “untimely”. The company argues that the deadline for the subpoena was March 3rd, 2023, and the FTC only submitted it between March 29th and 30th after asking for the identity of Nintendo’s negotiator on March 16th. If the judges agree with Nintendo, the company may not need to provide any additional information regarding the 10-year deal.
Possible outcomes of the FTC’s investigation
The FTC’s investigation into the Microsoft-Activision merger and its potential effects on competition in the gaming industry could lead to a range of outcomes. The agency could approve the merger, subject to certain conditions, or it could challenge the merger in court. If the agency finds evidence of antitrust violations, it could seek remedies such as divestitures or behavioral remedies. The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for the gaming industry and its players.
Overall, the subpoena of Steve Singer by the FTC is part of the agency’s broader investigation into the Microsoft-Activision merger and its potential impact on competition in the gaming industry. The outcome of the investigation could have significant implications for the future of the industry, and it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. 1. What is the nature of the 10-year licensing deal between Nintendo and Microsoft for Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms?
* The 10-year licensing deal between Nintendo and Microsoft for Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms was signed on December 6th, 2022. However, the specific details of the deal are not currently available.
2. Who is Steve Singer and what role did he play in the deal between Nintendo and Microsoft?
* Steve Singer is the vice president of publisher and developer relations at Nintendo of America. He was responsible for the discussions between Nintendo and Microsoft regarding the Call of Duty licensing deal.
3. What is the Activision merger and how does it relate to the subpoena of Steve Singer?
* The Activision merger refers to the recent acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the publisher of the Call of Duty franchise, by Microsoft. The subpoena of Steve Singer by the FTC is related to the deal between Nintendo and Microsoft for Call of Duty on Nintendo platforms.
4. What is the FTC and what is their involvement in this situation?
* The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a government agency responsible for protecting consumers and enforcing laws related to competition and commerce. They are currently attempting to gather more information from Nintendo regarding the Call of Duty licensing deal.
5. What is TweakTown and how did they report on this situation?
* TweakTown is a technology news website that reported on the subpoena of Steve Singer by the FTC and Nintendo’s attempts to get the subpoena dismissed. Their article provided public records related to the situation.
