Despite repeatedly underscoring its plan to keep its games on different platforms even after the $68.7 billion Activision merger is finalized, Microsoft still failed to convince the European Union during its preliminary investigation. The commission expressed concerns that the acquisition could result in “foreclosure strategies” that might “reduce competition in the markets for the distribution of console and personal computers video games and for PC operating systems,” pushing it to move to a deeper probe.
EU released a press release detailing its decision regarding its first investigation, which stresses the possibility that Microsoft may prevent its competitors from accessing Activision Blizzard’s console and PC video games, especially . The commission also describes how Microsoft already has a vast reach to customers through its ample resources, such as its Windows PC operating system and cloud computing service Azure. It also underlined Microsoft’s reputation as a game developer, publisher, and distributor. Through the proposed acquisition of a company with the same huge roles in the gaming industry, the EU believes that the competition on console/PC video games distribution, multi-game subscription services, and cloud game streaming services might decline.
“The preliminary investigation suggests that Microsoft may have the ability, as well as a potential economic incentive, to engage in foreclosure strategies vis-à-vis Microsoft’s rival distributors of console video g
