Defeat for Microsoft: Activision Blizzard takeover not approved
Microsoft recently created an official website where the company lists the benefits that acquiring Activision Blizzard would bring. But several authorities still have open questions about the mega deal. Now the EU is taking a closer look.
Update from November 1, 2022: When it comes to a deal as big as Microsoft’s takeover of Activision Blizzard, approval has to be sought from many sources. Authorities from the USA, Japan, South Korea and other countries have not yet given their approval and the EU authorities are also not giving any approval for the time being for the proposed takeover.
Microsoft let a deadline for commitments elapse. The European Commission requires that PlayStation and PC platforms not be disadvantaged after a takeover.
The EU Commission now has until November 8, 2022 to announce the phase 2 review if there is actually no approval in the first phase (source: political).
Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming, recently stated in an interview that Call of Duty, for example, should continue to appear for the PlayStation as long as the Sony console exists. The US group is at least moving in the required direction.
Original article:
Xbox wants to help gamers and developers
Sony probably doesn’t like the upcoming deal with Activision Blizzard, but it does the takeover brings a lot of advantages At least that’s what Microsoft claims. According to a new website, the company is not the only party to benefit. The whole thing should also only have a positive influence on players and developers, because they would be the focus of Xbox (source: Microsoft).
“We want to enable people to play games anywhere, anytime, on any device. And developers deserve more opportunities to develop, distribute and market their groundbreaking games. If we do that, we all win“, is it[called
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard would into Xbox gaming strategy fit and the reasons for this were neatly and clearly recorded in a graphic:
For players, the takeover means, among other things more games on devices like Xbox, PlayStation, phones and also online. They would also have choices about how and where to buy games, such as subscription and one-time purchase options. In addition, one would like to offer alternatives for mobile phone players.
For game developers, Microsoft promises more opportunities for investments and access to players as well as better revenues through fair market rules – which would also ultimately benefit gamers.
Ultimately, by acquiring Activision Blizzard, Microsoft wants to achieve that more competition in the mobile space are. The company also hopes for more competition in traditional games, where Sony and Nintendo “will remain the biggest providers.”
That’s not all Xbox is aiming for in the future, though.
Don’t really know what to play right now? We have tips for you:
Xbox boss Phil Spencer hopes that exclusive titles will decline in the future
Xbox has many big plans for the future. For example, Phil Spencer also commented on Platform exclusives to Bloomberg in August. Here he would wish for these to decrease in the future. It would be healthier for the industryif they were available on multiple systems.
