It looks like Microsoft is closing in on winning Activision Blizzard in Europe, as Reuters reports today that the European Commission is not expected to ask Microsoft to sell any assets to complete the deal.
In other words, the EU regulator is expected to be ready to approve the acquisition as long as Microsoft is willing to agree to certain remedies, one (or potentially all) of which are license agreements with rivals like the 10-year contract. Obligation agreements which have recently been extended to Sony, Nintendo and Valve.
Here’s a bit of what Microsoft had to say in response to today’s release:
“(Microsoft is committed to providing effective and easily applicable solutions that address the concerns of the European Commission.”
“Our commitment to grant Sony, Steam, NVIDIA and others 100% equal long-term access to Call of Duty preserves the benefits of the agreement for gamers and developers and increases competition in the marketplace.”
Interestingly, a Reuters source mentioned that Microsoft may also have to offer behavioral solutions to stakeholders other than Sony to gain EU approval, noting that “these solutions generally refer to the company’s future conduct “.
Things seem to be looking up for the Activision Blizzard acquisition in Europe, although we will still have to wait until late April for a verdict. The current EU deadline is April 25, 2023.
What do you think about this? Let us know in the comments section below.
(source Reuters.com)
Fraser has an unhealthy obsession with all things Telltale Games’ The Walking Dead series and has extensive knowledge of Xbox sports games. He also supports Walsall FC, that West Midlands team you’ve never heard of.