EU regulators seek views on Microsoft remedies for UK watchdog

Activision Blizzard

12/09/2023 12:50

(Adds detail and European Commission declined to comment)
    By Foo Yun Chee
       BRUSSELS, Sept 12 (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators
are asking Microsoft's  MSFT.O  rivals and customers whether
they are affected by the U.S. tech giant's proposals to gain UK
approval for its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard
 ATVI.O , sources close to the matter said.
    Microsoft last month offered to sell its cloud streaming
rights to Ubisoft Entertainment  UBIP.PA  after Britain's
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the biggest
gaming deal in history.
    The European Commission had cleared the deal in May after
Microsoft agreed to license popular Activision games such as
"Call of Duty" to rival game-streaming platforms. 
    That clearance was given before Microsoft proposed the
Ubisoft deal to appease the UK regulator.
    However, the EU antitrust watchdog has since emailed
companies to ask for feedback, the sources told Reuters. The
sources said it has not launched a formal investigation,
suggesting it may be waiting for a CMA decision before making
any move.
    An EU investigation looks unlikely, other sources said,
citing the structuring of Microsoft's CMA proposal to ensure
compliance with its EU remedies.
    The Commission declined to comment on the email, reiterating
that it was following developments in the UK closely and
assessing any potential impact on its own case.    

 (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee
Editing by Jason Neely and David Goodman)
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