# EU wants to know if Microsoft will block rivals after Activision deal Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-10-07 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: EU Regulators Probe Microsoft's Acquisition of Meta Description: EU regulators inquire about Microsoft's potential to block rivals' access to Activision Blizzard's games and the impact on the gaming industry. URL: https://financedigest.com/eu-wants-to-know-if-microsoft-will-block-rivals-after-activision-dealhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-10-06t190831z3lynxmpei950z8rtroptp4activision-m-a-microsoft-eu-1736815082790-compressed.jpg) By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) – EU antitrust regulators are asking games developers whether Microsoft will be incentivised to block rivals’ access to “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard’s best-selling games, according to an EU document seen by Reuters. EU antitrust regulators are due to make a preliminary decision by Nov. 8 on whether to clear Microsoft’s proposed $69 [billion acquisition](https://www.financedigest.com/chipmaker-infineon-ready-to-spend-billions-on-acquisitions-ceo.html "Chipmaker Infineon ready to spend billions on acquisitions – CEO") of Activision. The EU [competition enforcer also asked if Activision’s trove of user data](https://www.financedigest.com/three-ways-the-data-cloud-can-keep-financial-services-competitive.html "Three Ways the Data Cloud Can Keep Financial Services Competitive") would give the U.S. software giant a [competitive advantage](https://www.financedigest.com/turning-big-data-compliance-into-a-competitive-advantage.html "TURNING ‘BIG DATA’ COMPLIANCE INTO A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE") in the development, publishing and distribution of computer and console games, the EU document shows. The planned acquisition, the biggest in the [gaming industry](https://www.financedigest.com/advertys-multi-patented-and-industry-leading-in-game-viewability-technology-brainimpression-now-available-within-oracle-moat.html "Adverty’s Multi-patented and Industry-leading In-game Viewability Technology BrainImpression™ Now Available Within Oracle Moat"), will help Microsoft better compete with leaders Tencent and Sony. After its decision next month the European Commission is expected to [open a four-month long investigation](https://www.financedigest.com/india-opens-new-investigation-into-bbc-in-widening-crackdown.html "India opens new investigation into BBC in widening crackdown"), underscoring regulatory concerns about Big Tech acquisitions. [Games developers](https://www.financedigest.com/mobile-games-developer-huuuge-says-has-24-2-million-at-svb.html "Mobile games developer Huuuge says has .2 million at SVB"), publishers and distributors were asked whether the deal would affect their bargaining power regarding the terms for selling console and PC games via Microsoft’s Xbox and its cloud game streaming service Game Pass. Regulators also wanted to know if there would be sufficient alternative suppliers in the [market following the deal](https://www.financedigest.com/ge-healthcare-rises-8-in-market-debut-eyes-small-deals.html "GE HealthCare rises 8% in market debut, eyes small deals") and also in the event Microsoft decides to make Activision’s games exclusively available on its Xbox, its Games Pass and its cloud game streaming services. They asked if such exclusivity clauses would reinforce Microsoft’s Windows operating system versus rivals, and whether the addition of Activision to its PC operating system, [cloud computing](https://www.financedigest.com/the-value-of-cloud-computing.html "The Value of Cloud Computing") services and game-related software tools gives it an advantage in the video gaming industry. They asked how important the Call of Duty franchise is for distributors of console games, third-party multi-game subscription services on [computers and providers of cloud](https://www.financedigest.com/enterprise-training-and-the-future-of-cloud-computing.html "Enterprise Training and the Future of Cloud Computing") game streaming services. The questionnaire, with about 100 questions, asked which of the rivals such as Nvidia’s GeForce Now, Sony’s Playstation, Google Stadia, Amazon Luna and Facebook Gaming could be considered the most attractive [following the deal](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-watchdog-contacts-banks-following-huge-withdrawal-of-mortgage-deals-ft.html "UK watchdog contacts banks following huge withdrawal of mortgage deals -FT"). Respondents have until Oct. 10 to reply. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Susan Fenton) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---