As recently as yesterday, Microsoft confirmed that it has entered into an agreement with Nintendo that Call of Duty (and more) will be able to be played on the Japanese company’s platforms for the next ten years. In addition, Microsoft has now entered into an agreement with Nvidia to also release their titles to Geforce Now. So why has Microsoft decided to make these moves? Right now, Microsoft is trying to convince competition authorities that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard for almost 70 billion dollars should be completed.
At a recent briefing in Brussels (thanks, Tom Warren) Microsoft chairman Brad Smith addressed why these deals have been made and also touched on why Sony is not threatened by the deal.
Smith noted that it is hoped that these agreements will be enough to convince the authorities, especially since it was also noted at the briefing that Sony Playstation has 80% of the market share in the European Economic Area by 2022, compared to Xbox.
Speaking about the concerns the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has with the takeover, Smith said: “Do you want to kill a deal and cement Sony’s position? Or do you want to open this [Call of Duty] up to 150 million more people?”
Smith also addressed Sony’s attempt to block the deal, adding: “[Sony] can spend all of its energy trying to block this deal… or it can sit down with us and hammer out an agreement that addresses what it says it’s concerned about, mainly the access to Call of Duty in the future.”
As for whether a deal will be signed with Sony, Smith said: “I hope we will. I walk around with an envelope that contains the definitive agreement that we sent Sony two days before Christmas.”
Do you think these agreements and the press conference will be enough to convince the regulators?
