Can’t let the Americans have all the fun
The US Federal Trade Commisionhas already committedto blocking Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision-Blizzard buyout, so now it’s the EU’s turn to kick up a fuss. The EU’s antitrust watchdog is nearing the end of a 90-day probe into whether Microsoft’s buyout violates antitrust laws, and they’re reportedly about to serve up a charge sheet that lays out all their beef. As with those of the FTC and other regulators, their objections are likely to centre on the likelihood of Microsoft saddling Call Of Duty with Xbox or Gamepass exclusivity.
Watch on YouTube
The news comesfrom Reuters, who say their sources confirm that the EU is “readying a charge sheet known as a statement of objections, setting out its concerns about the deal which will be sent to Microsoft in the coming weeks”. They’ve set a deadline for April 12th on whether they’ll OK the deal.
According to those sources, there are “ongoing informal discussions on concessions” between Microsoft and the EU, though they’ll only be formally open to negotiations once they’ve sent over that charge sheet. Microsoft say they’re “continuing to work with the European Commission to address any marketplace concerns”, and repeat their line about how their goal is merely “to bring more games to more people”.
Microsoft’s real goal is to make pots of money, and exclusivity is a route they’ve chosen before. As the FTChave pointed out, when Microsoft bought ZeniMax they offered assurances that their games wouldn’t be withheld from rival consoles - butStarfieldandRedfallare now planned to be Xbox (and PC) exclusives.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is currently in the middle oftheir own investigation, and are due to publish their findings on April 26th.
