EU Boss Comments On Microsoft-Activision Deal And PlayStation Outselling Xbox 4:1
The European Union has approved Microsoft's blockbuster $68.7 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard, and one of the key people involved in the decision, Margrethe Vestager, has now shed more light on the decision.
In a speech recently, Vestager spoke about the divergence of opinion between the EU and the UK, the latter of which blocked the deal over concerns about cloud gaming.
«No one doubts that this was a landmark transaction in the gaming industry. Gaming is a dynamic market that impacts millions of consumers in Europe. So the deal deserved a thorough investigation. We looked at impacts on gamers today and in the future--whether they play on PC, console, or on their phones. We focused on the development of cloud streaming, which will play an increasing role in how consumers access games,» Vestager said.
She went on to say that the overall market share for Microsoft and Activision Blizzard was «generally low» in Europe compared to the rest of the world. Vestager went on to say that Sony dominates the market for console sales in the EU, selling about four times more PlayStation units than Microsoft does for Xbox consoles.
Like the CMA, Vestager said the EU did not have a concern that Microsoft would make Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox. Microsoft has said this would be a disastrous decision considering how much money Call of Duty makes on PlayStation.
The EU did have concerns about the cloud gaming space, a market that is «still nascent,» Vestager said, but has the potential to grow in the future. «Cloud gaming deserved an in-depth assessment. This was a common concern because, like us, the CMA focused on this market,» Vestager said.
She went on to say that the EU had concerns that Microsoft might make Activision
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