The agreement aims to purchase Activision Blizzard, the creator of the game “Call of Duty” (Anatolia).
The US software giant Microsoft Concessions may need to be made to allay EU concerns Antitrust Its $ 69 billion offer to purchase Activision Blizzard, the creator of the Call of Duty game, after regulators opened a full investigation on Tuesday, warning of the deal’s impact.
Microsoft, which announced the deal in January, is betting that Activision’s stability will help it compete better with flagships Tencent and Sony, with the latter criticizing the deal.
The European Commission said today in a statement: “The Commission’s preliminary investigation has shown that the agreement can significantly reduce competition in the markets for the distribution of video game consoles and computers, including multi-game subscription services and / or cloud game streaming services and computer operating systems. “
“The initial investigation indicates that Microsoft may have the ability, in addition to a potential economic incentive, to engage in foreclosure strategies in front of competing Microsoft distributors of console video games,” he explained.
Microsoft will work with the European Union antitrust watchdog to address valid market concerns, he said.
A spokesperson said: “Sony, as an industry leader, is worried about Call of Duty, but we said we are committed to making the game available simultaneously on Xbox and PlayStation, because we want people to have greater access to it. to the games “.
As regards the body in charge of ensuring the application of competition in the European Union, it is expected to take a decision on this agreement by 23 March 2023.
Reuters reported on Oct.31 that Microsoft was facing a thorough investigation by the European Union after refusing to provide solutions during the union’s initial review of the deal.
In London, the UK antitrust is also investigating the acquisition, with concerns similar to those of the European Union.
(Reuters, The New Arab)
