European Union antitrust regulators are preparing their investigation for the $68.7 billion Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal. According to Reuters, they will turn to game developers for insight into the possibility of Microsoft blocking its rivals’ access to best-selling games like Call of Duty.
Related: UK competition regulators will inspect the Activision Blizzard deal until March 2023
The issue was first brought to light by Sony authorities including including PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan. Sony believes that Call of Duty francise alone has power to determine consumers’ choice of purchasing gaming platforms.
Game developers, publishers, and distributors were given a questionnaire about the concerns surrounding the deal, with about 100 questions. One of the questions regulators asked if Activision’s collected user data would give Microsoft a competitive advantage in developing new games.
Another question asked was if there were enough alternative suppliers in the market if Microsoft decided to make Activision Blizzard’s game exclusive to its platforms.
Developers have to answer these questions by October 10, 2022. The list of questions is not yet public and will play a vital role in the verdict announced on November 8, 2022.
Saudi Arabia was the first country to section the deal.
