European Regulators Investigate Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

The European Commission has dispatched a comprehensive inquiry to gauge the concerns surrounding Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard. According to Reuters, a detailed 91-page questionnaire was circulated earlier this month, targeting gaming companies, including publishers and developers. The questionnaire delves into the potential implications of Microsoft's business strategies on the gaming industry if the deal is approved. Key areas of inquiry include: whether top-tier Activision Blizzard games will be exclusive to Xbox, potential price increases for the publisher's games on competing consoles, delayed releases on other platforms, and exclusive content and features on Xbox. In response, a Microsoft spokesperson stated, "We are committed to making Call of Duty available on both Xbox and PlayStation on the same day, as we aim to expand, not limit, access to games." This development comes on the heels of the FTC's lawsuit to block the acquisition two weeks prior.