Europe is not against Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard

DrAfter the British regulator saw the refusal to buy Activision Blizzard, Microsoft has reason to smile as the European Commission decided to approve the deal.

While not considering that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard would hurt competitors in the console market, the European regulator is of the opinion that the same does not happen in the “cloud” area. If Microsoft were to make Activision Blizzard’s current and future games exclusive to its “cloud” service, the regulator considered it would hurt competition.

That way, the European Commission is willing to agree to the deal if Microsoft issues a free license to consumers to enjoy all Activision Blizzard games (including future ones) on any game streaming service via the “cloud.”

“Video games attract billions of people around the world. In an industry with such rapid and dynamic growth, it is essential to protect competition and innovation. Our decision represents an important step in that direction, as we bring popular Activision games to more devices and consumers than ever before thanks to cloud game streaming. “can be read in the statement provided by Margrethe Vestager of the European Joint Commission Engadget website.

On the other hand, the British regulator responded to this news by reaffirming the decision not to approve the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft.

Microsoft’s proposals, accepted by the European Commission, would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for this market over the next ten years. It will replace the competitive, open, and free market with a single market subject to continued regulation of the games sold by Microsoft, the platforms on which they are sold, and the terms of those sales.”can be read in a series of “tweets” shared by the British regulator.

It will replace a free, open, and competitive market with one that is continuously regulated for the games you sell to Microsoft, the platforms you sell to Microsoft, and the terms of sale.

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– Competition and Markets Authority (CMAgovUK) May 15, 2023

Also read: Europe will make “life” difficult for Amazon, Google and Microsoft