Lulu Cheng Meservee, chief communications officer of Activision Blizzard, said the success of "The Last of Us" (opens in new tab) on HBO is evidence that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard should be allowed He stated.

HBO's adaptation of "The Last of Us" has been a huge hit (opens in new tab). When it premiered earlier this month, several sites described the series as "the best video game adaptation of all time," and Rotten Tomatoes had an enviable 97% critics' rating. And it's not just for video game fans: Esquire (opens in new tab) called the latest episode "an unforgettable TV moment," and supporting actor Nick Offerman has generated serious buzz with Emmy and Golden Globe nominations.

Its success prompted Messervy to speak out, specifically asking the FTC if they had caught the latest episode, noting that it was "a true blockbuster with tens of millions of viewers."

"If you haven't seen it yet, check it out," Messervy tweeted (opens in new tab)." You may be particularly interested to know that "The Last of Us" is being produced by Sony Pictures Television and PlayStation Productions. It is based on the best-selling game developed by a Sony-owned studio and published by Sony exclusively for PlayStation." [The FTC explained that it opposes Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard (open in new tab) because it is concerned that making the studio's games, especially the "Call of Duty" series, an Xbox exclusive could "stifle competition." However, the success of "The Last of Us" shows that there is no need to worry, as "Sony has an unparalleled trove of IP, not only in games, but also in television, movies, and music, that can be developed into games or marketed to existing games."

"Sony's talent and IP across games, TV, film, and music is formidable and truly impressive," tweeted Meservey. No wonder Sony remains the leader in the video game console market." In gaming, Sony is the 'Sony in us' and will do just fine without FTC protection."

The implication that Sony is the true dominant player is not a subtle one, but what I find particularly interesting is that Meservey's message deviates from Microsoft's official line: while not making "Call of Duty" a console exclusive (open in new tab), that Sony is so awash in its own powerful (and, not to be overlooked, exclusive) properties that it's not a big deal if it does.

An interesting position for the official public relations boss of Activision Blizzard, and one that has received mostly negative responses on Twitter. While some respondents are supportive, the majority seem to dispute the comparison: several question the validity of the statement, pointing out that Microsoft's Halo series for Paramount Plus has also been a hit. Whether or not such a claim is particularly true is not known, but it is clear that there are many gamers who do not want Microsoft to take Activision Blizzard under its wing.

This is not the first time Messervey has gotten into trouble on Twitter: she also came under fire in October 2022 for opposing the unionization of Activision Blizzard (open in new tab).