European Regulators Delay Decision on Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Until May

Microsoft's recent moves have prompted the European Union to postpone its final decision, leading to a potential approval of the acquisition.

In the ever-evolving saga of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the video game industry’s historic move has been met with intense scrutiny from competition and antitrust agencies around the world.

The latest development involves the European Union, which has announced that it will delay its verdict on the approval of the acquisition scheduled for April 25 to May 22. This decision was prompted by Microsoft’s recent moves in the industry, which could lead the European Union to approve the purchase.

Microsoft’s agreements involve bringing all its games, including the Call of Duty saga, to other platforms. These agreements were made with companies such as Nintendo, NVIDIA, Boosteroid, and Ubitus, ensuring that the Call of Duty franchise will not be exclusive to Xbox for the next 10 years.

According to a Microsoft representative who spoke to Reuters, “We have delivered on our promise to bring Call of Duty to more players on more devices by announcing our agreements to bring the game to Nintendo consoles and streaming services from NVIDIA, Boosteroid, and Ubitus.” Microsoft has also made binding commitments to the European Commission, ensuring that the acquisition will benefit players in the future.

This news comes after the British Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) asked several video game studios about the acquisition. Microsoft found support from six developers in the United Kingdom, who suggest that the acquisition may even benefit competition in the sector.

With Microsoft’s recent moves and the support of some industry experts, it seems likely that the European Union will approve the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Redmond. This acquisition will be a significant step forward for Microsoft in the video game industry and could have a substantial impact on the future of gaming.