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According to sources, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision for $69 billion (approximately Rs. 5,65,480 crore) is likely to be approved by EU antitrust regulators on May 15.
The European Commission is expected to approve the largest-ever gaming deal in the next few weeks, despite the UK competition authority’s decision to block it three weeks ago. The UK authority had concerns that the deal would negatively impact competition in the cloud gaming sector.
In March, sources with direct knowledge of the matter informed Reuters that the acquisition is likely to be approved by the EU antitrust enforcer. This is because Microsoft has made licensing agreements with its cloud streaming competitors such as Nvidia, Boosteroid from Ukraine, and Ubitus from Japan.
It also has agreements with Nintendo and US distributor Valve, owner of the world’s largest video game distribution platform, Steam, to bring Activision’s Call of Duty to their gaming platforms should the acquisition go through.
The Commission has not commented and has set a deadline of May 22 for its decision.
The purchase was approved by Japan in March, but the US Federal Trade Commission is currently seeking to block it.
Last month, Microsoft inked a ten-year agreement with Nware to introduce Xbox and Activision Blizzard games to the Spanish cloud-gaming platform. This move followed the UK regulatory authority’s decision to veto its Activision deal.
Microsoft President Brad Smith stated that although the cloud gaming sector is still in its infancy, the latest collaboration along with the company’s other recent efforts will expand the availability of popular games on numerous cloud game streaming services.
Owners of streaming platforms, including Valve, Nvidia, and Boosteroid, have signed similar deals with the Xbox console maker.
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