John Paul M. Joaquin Tech 02.21.2023 04:Feb AM EST

Microsoft President To Convince EU Regulators of Activision Acquisition Benefits

Microsoft is not giving up on its plan to acquire Activision.

The California-based tech giant's president, Brad Smith, is reportedly going to face EU antitrust regulators to convince them of the benefits of the company acquiring Activision.

The EU previously blocked Microsoft's plans of acquiring Activision due to it resulting in harming the company's competitors in the video game industry.

Microsoft EU Antitrust Regulator Meeting Details

Microsoft President Brad Smith will reportedly face EU antitrust regulators at a closed hearing that its acquisition of Activision will boost competition instead of harming it, per a Reuters report citing a European Commission document.

Smith will lead a delegation of 18 senior executives, including Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer and Activision CEO Robert Kotick.

Meanwhile, a report from Quartz citing news service MLex mentioned that representatives from Google, Nvidia, EA, Valve, and even Sony are also expected to appear at the closed-door hearing.

A Google spokesperson said that the European Commission asked for Google's views in the course of their inquiries into its investigation and that it will continue to cooperate in any processes to ensure all views are considered.

Video game distributor Valve and the competition watchdogs across the EU's countries, from Belgium, the Czech Republic, and France to Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden, will also be taking part in the event.

This hearing would allow Smith and Microsoft to determine the general mood among senior EU and national competition officials and Commission lawyers before Microsoft submits the remedies it plans to make to its acquisition deal more favorable to its competitors, addressing antitrust concerns.

What Are The "Benefits" Of Microsoft's Acquisition?

Spencer previously posted a blog post on Sept. 1, 2022, that featured the benefits of its acquisition deal with Activision. According to the Microsoft Gaming CEO, Microsoft is committed to making the same version of Call of Duty available on PlayStation on the same day it launches elsewhere, citing its acquisition of Mojang Studios' Minecraft, which continues to be available on multiple platforms.

He added that an Xbox-exclusive Call of Duty game would only happen if it would attract enough players to offset the loss from doing so and that making the Call of duty series Xbox-exclusive "would simply not be profitable" for both Microsoft and Activision.

Microsoft also added a new page specifically detailing how beneficial its acquisition of Activision will be. It explained that players would get more games on more devices such as the Xbox, PlayStation, phones, and online.

Meanwhile, game creators can get more ways to have their games be played through support, investment, and better access to gamers, while also getting better revenue and "fair marketplace rules through its app store principles."

Lastly, the game industry will experience more competition in mobile and traditional gaming, along with an emphasis on positive workplace culture and increased local investment from Microsoft in studios and creative ecosystems worldwide.