Senator Kevin Cramer Calls Out Sony's Exclusivity Deals in Open Letter to CEO
Senator Kevin Cramer has expressed his concern about Sony's dominance in the gaming market in an open letter to Sony CEO Kenichiro Yoshida and has requested transparency regarding the company's contracts on game exclusivity and paperwork related to the Bungie acquisition.
troubled
The attempt by Sony to prevent Microsoft from purchasing Activision Blizzard has particularly troubled Cramer, who represents North Dakota, and labels it an instance of "anti-competitive behavior." He also questions Sony's advocacy on behalf of the FTC and other watchdogs following the acquisition of Bungie, which he views as exclusive practices that restrict developer and player options.
concerns
Cramer, however, is concerned about more than just the gaming industry's rivalry. The state of North Dakota wants to be a national leader in computer science and cybersecurity education, and preparing students for careers in the gaming industry is a key component of that. Cramer thinks that Sony's monopoly on the market could jeopardize a chance for North Dakota to develop.
20 years
For the past 20 years, "Sony has completely dominated the console market," Cramer claimed. According to reports, Sony appears to want to use its presence to stifle competition rather than give players and developers more options.
the future
It is unclear whether Sony will respond to Cramer's letter and provide the requested transparency as the company continues to rule the gaming sector. In the meantime, Cramer's worries bring up significant issues regarding how monopolies and exclusivity agreements affect the gaming sector and the overall economy.