Microsoft has signed a 10-year agreement with Ukrainian cloud gaming platform, Boosteroid, which will allow its four million users to access Xbox PC games via their streaming subscription. While this agreement was still piping hot, another agreement announcement with Ubitus came.
Microsoft has announced a 10-year agreement with the Ukraine-based cloud gaming platform, Boosteroid, to boost support for its $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. The move will give Boosteroid’s four million users access to Xbox PC games via their streaming subscription, with Activision Blizzard PC games also becoming available if the acquisition goes ahead. This deal is similar to the one announced previously with Nvidia, which aimed to bring Xbox PC games to the GeForce Now streaming service. In addition to these agreements, Microsoft has a 10-year deal to bring Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms if the Activision Blizzard deal is completed.
The agreement with Boosteroid underscores Microsoft’s commitment to making games accessible to everyone, regardless of their device. According to Xbox boss Phil Spencer, “…bringing Xbox PC games to Boosteroid members, including Activision Blizzard titles such as Call of Duty once the deal closes, is yet another step in realizing that vision.” Microsoft hopes these initiatives will help reassure regulators that its acquisition of Activision Blizzard will not result in more limited access to blockbuster titles like Call of Duty.
On the other hand, in a post on his Twitter account, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer said:
“Microsoft and Ubitus, a leading cloud gaming provider, have signed a 10-year partnership to stream Xbox PC Games as well as Activision Blizzard titles after the acquisition closes. Our commitment is to give more players more choice.”
The agreement aims to make Xbox, PC games, and Activision Blizzard titles available after -and if- the acquisition is complete.
Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal has been a magnet for controversy. A controversy in that multiple companies and government authorities were involved. Most claims revolve around unfair competition, but even monopolization claims were thrown in. This is not the first time that the company has faced such allegations in its history. Still, this time it aggressively pushes to convince the industry, market, and authorities that it does intend to make games more accessible for everyone.
Considering the size of the Activision Blizzard deal is $68.7 billion, and it’s still on the knife’s edge, Microsoft seems persistent in throwing as many sprats as needed to catch that herring. The giant hopes that these deals will make it clear to regulators that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will make Call of Duty available on more devices than ever before and hopes to convince regulators that these acquisitions will benefit consumers and the industry as a whole.
