Microsoft Corp is expected to win EU antitrust clearance with its $69 billion acquisition of Activision by offering a license agreement with a competitor.
Last January, Microsoft announced Activision’s biggest offer yet. It acquired the booming video game market leaders Tencent and Sony and entered the Metaverse, an online virtual world where people can work, play and socialize.
The European Commission, which is set to decide on the deal by April 25, is unlikely to require Microsoft to sell its assets to get approval, the people said.
In addition to licensing agreements with competitors, Microsoft may need to offer other remedies to allay concerns from parties other than Sony, one of the people said. rice field. Such remedies are generally related to the future actions of the combined entity. Activision shares rose 1.8% in pre-market trading and rose 2.6% in late trading after the Reuters story was published.
Microsoft president Brad Smith said last month that he was open to offering licensing deals to competitors to address antitrust concerns, but wouldn’t sell his lucrative Call of Duty franchise to Activision.
Smith said it was neither feasible nor practical to think that Activision’s game or part could be cut out and separated from the rest.
The EU competition authority declined to comment.
Microsoft said it was “committed to providing effective and readily enforceable solutions that address the European Commission’s concerns.”
A Microsoft spokesperson said, “Our commitment to giving Sony, Steam, NVIDIA and others his 100% equal access to Call of Duty over the long term will continue to drive the benefits of the deal for gamers and developers. maintain and promote competition in the market.” Last month, Microsoft announced a 10-year licensing agreement with Nintendo and Nvidia. Nvidia Brings Call of Duty to Gaming Platforms
The deal faces regulatory headwinds in the UK, with UK competition regulators suggesting Microsoft sell Call of Duty to ease its concerns, but the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) asked a judge to block the transaction.