Activision Executives Were Briefed on New Nintendo Switch Last Year
- Executives imply new Switch could better handle ‘Call of Duty’
- Documents released as part of antitrust case against Microsoft
Activision Blizzard headquarters in Santa Monica, California.
Photographer: Eric Thayer/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Activision Blizzard Inc. executives were briefed on a next-generation console from Nintendo Co. as early as 2022, according to an internal email revealed as part of the US Federal Trade Commission’s probe into Microsoft Corp.’s bid to purchase Activision.
In a December 2022 email between Activision executives, Chief Financial Officer Armin Zerza shares an executive briefing for a call with Nintendo president Shuntaro Furukawa. The email includes an attachment titled “NG Switch Draft.pdf” — referring to a “next-generation” device. The heavily redacted document includes a paragraph comparing a next-generation Switch to current gaming consoles.