Brussels: EU antitrust regulators are asking game developers if Activision Blizzard’s (NASDAQ:ATVI) best-selling games will be blocked from rivals by Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), according to an EU document seen by Reuters.
EU antitrust regulators will make a preliminary decision by Nov. 8 about whether or not to let Microsoft buy Activision for $69 billion.
Related: Amazon and Google criticise Microsoft’s cloud computing adjustments.
The EU’s competition watchdog also asked if Activision’s huge collection of user data would give the U.S. software giant an edge in making, publishing, and selling computer and console games, according to an EU document.
The deal, which will be the biggest in the gaming industry, will help Microsoft compete better with Tencent and Sony, which are currently the top two companies (NYSE:SONY).
After making its decision next month, the European Commission is likely to start a four-month investigation. This will show that regulators are worried about Big Tech mergers.
Developers, publishers, and distributors of games were asked if the deal would change their ability to negotiate the terms of selling console and PC games through Microsoft’s Xbox and its cloud game streaming service Game Pass.
Regulators also wanted to know if there would be enough other suppliers on the market after the deal and if Microsoft decided to make Activision’s games only available on its Xbox, Games Pass, and cloud game streaming services.
They asked if these kinds of “exclusivity clauses” would help Microsoft’s Windows operating system beat out competitors, and if adding Activision to its PC operating system, cloud computing services, and game-related software tools gives it an edge in the video game industry.
They wanted to know how important the Call of Duty series is to companies that sell console games, offer multi-game subscription services on computers, and stream games from the cloud.
Related: Australia demands anti-abuse measures from Apple, Microsoft, and Meta and threatens sanctions.
With about 100 questions, the survey asked which competitors, like Nvidia’s (NVDA) GeForce Now, Sony’s Playstation, Google’s (GOOGL) Stadia, Amazon’s (AMZN) Luna, and Facebook’s (META) Gaming, could be seen as the most attractive after the deal.
The deadline for responses is October 10.
