EU approves Microsoft-Activision Merger

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Earlier today the EU regulators and Microsoft came to an agreement regarding the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. Many hurdles had to be overcome for the regulators to approve the proposed $68.7 billion acquisition of the famed creator of World of Warcraft, Diablo, and Call of Duty. Though the EU has approved the plans by Microsoft still the UK is a standout, remaining to block the acquisition once better details are provided for the Cloud gaming licenses of games owned by Activision-Blizzard.

In the agreement the EU and Microsoft have provided the following terms:

• Microsoft would offer a free license to EU consumers that would allow them to stream, via any cloud game streaming services of their choice, all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and console games for which they have a license.
• Cloud gaming providers would get a corresponding license to allow EU gamers to stream any Activision Blizzard’s PC and console games, all for free.
• These Deals are in place for ten (10) years.

A concession like this from the EU might be considered a legal precedent for other Cloud Gaming Companies to follow for both acquisition and terms of ownership to digital licenses. If the UK follows suit with the EU we might begin to see this same practice becoming commonplace within the United States, with Steam, Xbox Game Pass, and PlayStation Plus moving in this direction.

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