Call of Duty remains the key factor in deal completion
According toglobal news conglomerate Reuters, the European Commission is considered likely to approve the acquisition of publisher Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. The regulatory body held a hearing over the stalemate sale last week, where Microsoft pleaded its case for the $69 billion purchase.
Citing anonymous sources, Reuters reports that the EU commission is satisfied with Microsoft’s promise to leave Activision’s military shooter franchiseCall of Dutyas a multiplatform IP, rather than make the billion-dollar seriesan exclusive for Microsoft’s own Xbox platform. While there are many factors pertaining to the sale — from a company, franchise, division, and employee standpoint —Call of Dutyand its future remains one of the key elements on which the entire purchase rests.
“[Microsoft is] committed to offering effective and easily enforceable solutions that address the European Commission’s concerns,” said the publisher in comments to Reuters. “Our commitment to grant long-term 100% equal access toCall of Dutyto Sony, Steam, NVIDIA, and others preserves the deal’s benefits to gamers and developers and increases competition in the market.”
Regardless of the EU’s final decision, which must be disclosed before July 02, 2025, Microsoft still has toface down a lawsuitfrom the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, which isscheduled to go to trialthis summer. The losing party will also have the right to appeal, essentially setting the tone for a long and extremely drawn-out process before the acquisition is finally settled, one way or another.
