EU antitrust regulators are seeking feedback from Microsoft and Activision Blizzard’s rivals with regards to their proposed £50billion merger.
That’s according to a leaked document seen by Reuters, in which the EU is asking developers if Microsoft would be incentivised to block rivals’ access to Activision Blizzard’s biggest titles – most notably Call of Duty, as well as the recently-released Overwatch 2.
The questionnaire, which features around 100 questions, also asks developers, publishers and and distributors if the deal would impact their bargaining power with regards to selling console and PC games on the Xbox platform, or via Game Pass.
Additionally, the leaked document also asks if, given the enormous popularity of their games, Activision Blizzard’s user data would give Microsoft a competitive advantage in the industry. The EU also wants to know if there would be sufficient alternative suppliers in the market following the acquisition, and following the eventuality that Microsoft decides to make Activision Blizzard’s games exclusive to their platform.
