EU Regulators , Approve Microsoft's Acquisition , of Activision Blizzard.<br />Just weeks after regulators in the United Kingdom blocked <br />Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the<br />$68.7 billion deal was approved by the European Union.<br />Just weeks after regulators in the United Kingdom blocked <br />Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the<br />$68.7 billion deal was approved by the European Union.<br />The Verge reports that the European Commission <br />concluded that the deal could proceed due <br />to Microsoft's commitment to cloud gaming.<br />According to the EU, Microsoft <br />“would have no incentive to refuse to <br />distribute Activision’s games to Sony.”.<br />The EU statement went on to say that , “even if Microsoft did decide to withdraw Activision’s <br />games from the PlayStation, this would not <br />significantly harm competition in the consoles market.”.<br />However, regulators in the EU agreed with U.K. regulators, <br />stating that the deal could harm competition regarding the distribution of PC and console games through cloud gaming services.<br />According to the European Commission, 10-year <br />licensing deals Microsoft has offered to rivals<br />offset the harm the acquisition could cause to competition.<br />The Verge reports that these deals include a free license for EU consumers to stream Activision Blizzard games via “any cloud game streaming services of their choice.” .<br />Our decision represents an important <br />step in this direction, by bringing <br />Activision’s popular games to many more <br />devices and consumers than before <br />thanks to cloud game streaming, Margrethe Vestager, executive VP in charge of competition <br />policy at the European Commission, via The Verge.<br />The commitments offered by <br />Microsoft will enable for the first time <br />the streaming of such games in any cloud <br />game streaming services, enhancing <br />competition and opportunities for growth, Margrethe Vestager, executive VP in charge of competition <br />policy at the European Commission, via The Verge.<br />The Verge reports that despite Microsoft's victory in <br />the EU, the company still faces a tough appeal battle for <br />approval by the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority.<br />The Verge reports that despite Microsoft's victory in <br />the EU, the company still faces a tough appeal battle for <br />approval by the U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority
