Microsoft executives, led by President Brad Smith, appeared before European regulators today to defend the company's $68.7B acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard.
Shortly after Smith met with EU officials today, he announced that Microsoft will bring Xbox PC games to Nvidia’s cloud gaming service.
- The closed hearing also included representatives from Google, Nvidia, and Sony, which continues to be heavily opposed to the deal.
- Sony is concerned that if the acquisition were to go through, Microsoft would make Activision's "Call of Duty" franchise exclusive to its own Xbox console and gaming services, leaving out the Playstation franchise.
- In its defense, Microsoft argues that the deal will increase competition and result in more content. Prior to the hearing, Smith said it will "bring more games to more people on more devices and platforms than ever before."
- In addition to the EU, the deal is facing scrutiny from U.S. and U.K. regulators, who have asked Microsoft to propose concessions to address concerns about reduced competition.
- On the same day as the hearing, Microsoft announced that it has finalized a 10-year binding contract with Nintendo.
- That contract ensures that "Call of Duty" games will be released to Nintendo players on the same day that they're launched on Xbox, with all the same features and content.
- Microsoft has proposed a similar deal to Sony, which has so far declined.
- On Tuesday, Microsoft said it will bring Xbox games available on PCs to Nvidia’s GeForce Now cloud gaming service, and will also launch all of Activision Blizzard’s titles, including Call of Duty, to GeForce Now.
