The new report states that the European Commission will allow Microsoft acquisition Activision Blizzard without the former having to sell assets to gain approval.
This was reported by sources familiar with the situation Reuters. If the sources are correct, this would mean that Microsoft would not have to sell Call of Duty or other IPs to appease the Commission.
When reached for comment, a Microsoft representative told the publication that the company is “committed to offering effective and easily implementable solutions that address the European Commission’s concerns” and that it is also committed to ensuring long-term 100% equal access to Call of Duty “Sony , Steam, Nvidia and others”.
“(It) preserves the benefits of the deal for gamers and developers and increases competition in the market,” the spokesperson said.
In the meantime, the FTC judge acquiesced Microsoft’s offer to review exclusive PlayStation contracts to prepare for a summer trial to acquire Activision Blizzard.
This will allow the courts and Microsoft to review exclusive PlayStation contracts from 2019 to the present, as well as four years of the company’s records.
Microsoft originally wanted exclusive records dating back to 2012, but Sony said that wouldn’t be possible because it would have to search through more than 150,000 contracts with about 60,000 companies.
The company has asked to see PlayStation’s contracts because it would help resolve Sony’s allegations about exclusivity deals. Microsoft said the documents will show that some PlayStation contracts restrict Microsoft from adding games to Xbox Game Pass or, in some cases, releasing them on Xbox systems.