Microsoft announced that it will bring the library of games from computer of Xbox to the platform GeForce now of Nvidia. The announcement comes amid scrutiny of the pending acquisition of ActivisionBlizzard by Microsoft, worth $68.7 billion, by regulators such as the US FTC and the UK CMA.
With growing concerns over the potential control of the tech giant’s gaming monopoly, Microsoft is increasingly seeking support from industry players, and its partnership with Nvidia could be the latest effort in that regard.
Activision’s deal has been in the spotlight regularly, as regulators continue to raise concerns about the possible implications of the acquisition. While it’s not just regulators, it seems almost half of Xbox’s rivals are concerned about buying Activision.
One of the main reasons for this opposition is the fact that the acquisition would give Xbox exclusive rights to Call of Duty, Overwatch, Candy Crush and other major franchises. This could mean that Microsoft could exercise exclusive control over these IPs, including through its Xbox Game Pass and Cloud Gaming services.
Now, partnering with Nvidia is likely part of the Xbox maker’s response to those concerns. Under the agreement, Microsoft will bring the vast number of Xbox PC games to Nvidia’s “GeForce Now” service as part of a 10-year partnership with the company.
The announcement claims that under the agreement, gamers will be able to stream PC games purchased from the Windows Store alongside third-party titles sold with streaming rights to Nvidia. Xbox PC games available on third-party stores like the Epic Games Store and Steam will also be able to stream on GeForce Now.
It’s worth noting that the games would still have to be purchased before they’re available on GeForce Now, as the deal only specifies streaming rights.