novel about Purchase of Microsoft Activision Blizzard Apparently, this will take longer than planned. As it is the largest acquisition in Redmond’s history and also the largest in the video game industry, regulators are looking into the magnifying glass proposal. However, those led by Satya Nadella they did not face such a difficult obstacle like the one that showed Financial Times.
According to the aforementioned media, Regulators in the UK and the European Union are going to spend as much time as necessary before giving the green light to a purchase.. This is primarily due to its size and influence on the video game industry. And, on the other hand, to the concerns expressed by some of Microsoft’s competitors, mainly Sony.
Thus, two difficult situations arise. The first one is that The European Union will launch a thorough investigation cases in the coming weeks; one that includes an analysis of whether Microsoft is violating antitrust rules. Second, unlike other studies of previous purchases in this sector big technologythis time the body will be stricter — and those that will appear later—. Why? Because they believe that they have not acted properly in the past to contain the overgrowth of some companies.
Meanwhile, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has moved on to a more complex phase of its investigation. This is after Microsoft presented no commitments that could allay the concerns of the British body. What is this concern? As you may have guessed, this is due to Call of Duty.
Microsoft has a problem called Call of Duty
In the past few weeks, the unexpected operator intersection between Redmond and Sony. Initially – February 2022, to be precise – Microsoft revealed that its intention was to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles. However, the narrative changed slightly in early September when Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, promised that the availability of the franchise on the Sony platform would be extended “for several years.”
Shortly thereafter, Sony Interactive Entertainment (PlayStation) head Jim Ryan reported that Microsoft’s proposed deal was for just three years..
“I didn’t mean to comment on what I understood to be a private business discussion, but I feel the need to clarify because Phil Spencer took this to a public forum. Microsoft has only offered to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation within three years of the end of the current deal between Activision and Sony.”
Jim Ryan.
This situation, always according to the information Financial Times, has caused concern to European regulators. If it goes into effect, PlayStation users will lose access to the new Call of Duty after the specified period. When we talk about one of the most successful franchises in the entertainment world, the subject gets more serious.
Sony’s Huge Demands
The report also states that Sony wants “the commission to force Microsoft to provide guarantees that they will be able to access all games ‘equally and forever'”.. Obviously this is a big requirement. However, choosing this promise could be an outlet for Microsoft if regulatory pressure is focused on the issue.
Although the path looks confusing for Microsoft, this is far from the end of its intentions to take over Activision Blizzard. Yes now the regulatory process is likely to take longer. He intended to close the deal in June 2023, a goal that could be delayed by a few months. The last word, of course, will be with the regulators.
Source: Hiper Textual
