EU Regulators , Approve Microsoft's Acquisition , of Activision Blizzard.
Just weeks after regulators in the United Kingdom blocked
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the
$68.7 billion deal was approved by the European Union.
Just weeks after regulators in the United Kingdom blocked
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the
$68.7 billion deal was approved by the European Union.
The Verge reports that the European Commission
concluded that the deal could proceed due
to Microsoft's commitment to cloud gaming.
According to the EU, Microsoft
“would have no incentive to refuse to
distribute Activision’s games to Sony.”.
The EU statement went on to say that , “even if Microsoft did decide to withdraw Activision’s
games from the PlayStation, this would not
significantly harm competition in the consoles market.”.
However, regulators in the EU agreed with U.K. regulators,
stating that the deal could harm competition regarding the distribution of PC and console games through cloud gaming services.
According to the European Commission, 10-year
licensing deals Microsoft has offered to rivals
offset the harm the acquisition could cause to competition.
The Verge reports that these deals include a free license for EU consumers to stream Activision Blizzard games via “any cloud game streaming services of their choice.” .
Our decision represents an important
step in this direction, by bringing
Activision’s popular games to many more
devices and consumers than before
thanks to cloud game streaming, Margrethe Vestager, executive VP in charge of competition
policy at the European Commission, via The Verge.
The commitments offered by
Microsoft will enable for the first time
the streaming of such games in any cloud
game streaming services, enhancing
competition and opportunities for growth, Margrethe Vestager, executive VP in charge of competition
policy at the European Commission, via The Verge.
The Verge reports that despite Microsoft's victory in
the EU, the company still faces a tough appeal battle for
approval by the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority.
The Verge reports that despite Microsoft's victory in
the EU, the company still faces a tough appeal battle for
approval by the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority