Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard deal reportedly gets the green light from the EU

Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard appears to be cleared by EU regulators, the news outlet reports Reuters.

According to the report, inside sources have confirmed that Microsoft convinced the European Commission with concessions. Last week, the company announced that Call of Duty would be available on Nintendo platforms and Nvidia’s GeForce Now streaming service.

Decision by the end of April

The EU will publicly announce its final decision on the case before April 25, 2023. In a press conference last week, Microsoft President Brad Smith ruled out any possibility of acquiring just a portion of Activision Blizzard or selling the Call of Duty franchise.

According to the sources, the EU is not expected to require Microsoft to sell parts of Activision to complete the acquisition.

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In its response to the report, Microsoft emphasized that it is committed to “providing effective and easily enforceable solutions that address the concerns of the European Commission. Our commitment to long-term 100% equal access to Call of Duty for Sony, Steam, Nvidia and granting others preserves the benefits of the deal for players and developers and increases competition in the market.”

Success in Europe would be an important step for Microsoft, the EU is one of the top three regulators currently blocking the takeover. You would also have to convince the UK Competition and Markets Authority and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC).