2023-05-15 16:09:43
Today, 15 May, the European Commission approved deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. For companies, this is all the more important because they have previously faced opposition from other regulators. Concerns that the deal could hurt competition were allayed by Microsoft’s offer to enter into licensing agreements for Activision games with other gaming services, the European Commission said.
According to the head of the EU competition authority Margrethe Vestager, this “will allow users of cloud streaming game services to access such games for the first time, improve competition and opportunities for development.” We are talking about the fact that earlier many Activision games were available only for game consoles, but now they can appear on streaming game services that allow you to play from a variety of gadgets, including smartphones. According to the European Commission, the deal will not reduce competition in the gaming console market, where Microsoft’s Xbox competes primarily with Sony’s PlayStation.
In April, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the deal. The CMA stated that “the deal will negatively impact the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, resulting in reduced innovation and fewer choices for UK gamers in the coming years.” The US Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit in December seeking to block Microsoft’s purchase of video game developer Activision Blizzard. The first hearings are due in August.
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