The European Commission (EC) will send a list of objections to Microsoft, Reuters news agency writes. In it, the regulator lists all concerns about the planned takeover of game developer Activision Blizzard.
If the European regulator sends a list of objections, this does not mean that the takeover cannot go ahead. It invites Microsoft to make more commitments and to make binding agreements. These must prevent the company from harming competitors.
The EU is afraid that Microsoft will keep Activision Blizzard’s games for itself. Microsoft could also benefit itself by first releasing games only for its own Xbox gaming console.
Microsoft has already made many commitments to reassure regulators, such as the promise that competitors will not be put at a disadvantage. Still, the EC is not entirely reassured.
The top three largest game companies are Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft. With the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft is getting even bigger. After the acquisition, the company is not only a producer of game computers and owner of an online store for games, but also a developer of games.
At the beginning of last year, Microsoft announced that it was acquiring Activision Blizzard. The game developer is known for popular games such as World of Warcraft and Call of Duty.
Microsoft pays 68.7 billion dollars (almost 63.5 billion euros) for the acquisition. This makes this acquisition one of the top five largest acquisitions in the tech sector ever.
By 11 April at the latest, the European Commission will decide whether the acquisition of Activision Blizzard can go ahead.
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