Microsoft offers remedies to EU to win approval for ABK acquisition

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Microsoft has submitted its proposed remedies to the European Union as part of its ongoing efforts to gain approval for the planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Reuters, via Yahoo Finance, reports a European Commission filing shows receipt of these remedies but does not offer details on what they involve.

The EU’s antitrust regulator will now discuss the proposals with Microsoft’s rivals and customers, with a final decision on the deal due by May 22, 2023.

In its preliminary findings, published in November, the EC said it was particularly concerned that Microsoft may withhold access to Activision’s games, including Call of Duty, to other platforms, and that the merger may impact the subscription and cloud gaming markets.

The EU issued a formal antitrust warning against Microsoft back in January.

Microsoft has already proposed remedies to alleviate similar concerns from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

The company offered to license out Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard titles to other platforms and cloud gaming services, saying that it would not make these games or any content exclusive to its own ecosystem.

A spokesperson told Reuters: “We have stood behind our promise to bring Call of Duty to more gamers on more devices by entering into agreements to bring the game to the Nintendo console and cloud game streaming services offered by Nvidia, Boosteroid, and Ubitus.

“We are now backing up that promise with binding commitments to the European Commission, which will ensure that this deal benefits gamers into the future.”