Microsoft is in trouble for its acquisition of Activision Blizzard while two behemoths officially oppose it.
It’s been nearly a year since Microsoft announced its desire to buy video game studio Activision Blizzard for $70 billion. Since then, the firm has encountered complication after complication. After interviews with the Federal Trade Commission in the United States, questionnaires sent by Europe and complaints filed by its biggest rival Sony, Microsoft still faces a big hurdle.
Two web and video game giants have just publicly opposed this acquisition, which is definitely not unanimous. It’s about Google and Nvidiawho agree with Sony on the fact that the transaction could have too damaging consequences for many players in the video game industry, in particular with regard to the potential exclusivity of call of duty.
Risks too great
Although Microsoft has repeatedly said that it does not want to turn the shooter franchise into an Xbox exclusive and has tried to show its paw, it is true that in fact, this possibility will always remain open once the takeover is finalized. . Bloomberg, which reports this information, explains that the two companies are more worried about “the unfair advantage [que gagnerait Microsoft] in the cloud gaming, subscription games and mobile games market“.
Three sectors that directly concern Google and Nvidia, even after the untimely death of Stadia. GeForce Now is alive and well, and intends to remain so for many more years. According to the outlet, Nvidia in particular emphasized the need for free and equal access to video games, but did not specifically criticize the takeover itself.
A verdict still far away
Now, it remains to be seen whether these testimonies will have any weight on the scale. Since Microsoft has been struggling with this case, everything seems to be going wrong for the firm and the suspense remains at its height. As a reminder, it is the world authorities who will have the end of the story in a few more weeks, or even months. For its part, Sony is also launching hostilities by claiming that the next Final Fantasy could be a long-term PS5 exclusive, which PC and Xbox gamers don’t like. Don’t do to others what you wouldn’t want them to do to you?
