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Microsoft Corp. proposed a series of licenses that would allow wide availability of Activision Blizzard Inc. games to be available for at least a decade in a bid to get U.K. regulators to sign off on its $69 billion acquisition of the videogame publisher.
The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority said in February it would block the acquisition unless the publisher’s top franchise, “Call of Duty,” was divested to ensure it was available on more than just Microsoft’s
MSFT,
Xbox consoles. In its response to the CMA, PlayStation maker Sony
6758,
SONY,
agreed with U.K. regulators and said that acquisition should be blocked or that “Call of Duty” should be divested.
Microsoft, however, noted to the CMA that it has already taken steps to ensure wide availability in a 10-year deal to make games available to Nintendo Co.
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and to Nvidia Corp.’s
NVDA,
cloud gaming service.
In a response to regulators, Microsoft said the agreements with Nintendo and Nvidia will bring “Call of Duty” to an additional 150 million gamers worldwide if the acquisition is allowed. The company also said it would be willing to strike a similar deal with Sony for the Activision Blizzard
ATVI,
game.
“In addition to the legally binding agreements entered into with Nintendo and Nvidia, Microsoft is proposing a package of licensing remedies which (i) guarantee parity between the PlayStation and Xbox platforms in respect of CoD and (ii) ensure wide availability of CoD and other Activision titles on cloud gaming services,” Microsoft told regulators.
Shares of Microsoft slipped 0.8% in Wednesday trading, while Activision shares rose 0.3%, and American depositary receipts of Sony rose 0.8%.
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