Microsoft's Commitment to EU on Bethesda Exclusives Under Scrutiny

GamesIndustry.biz's For The Record series offers in-depth analysis of the industry's most significant stories, providing context and updates on ongoing issues. Recently, reports emerged that the European Union has intervened in the Federal Trade Commission's lawsuit against Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, specifically addressing concerns about the company's handling of Bethesda game exclusives. The EU's stance seems to contradict the FTC's implication that Microsoft reneged on its promises regarding Starfield and other Bethesda titles. The FTC argued that Microsoft has a history of acquiring and utilizing gaming content to stifle competition from rival consoles, citing the company's announcement that Starfield will be exclusive to Xbox and PC as evidence. However, the EU has clarified that Microsoft did not make any formal commitments to the Commission regarding the release of ZeniMax games on rival consoles. The EU's original report on the approval of Microsoft's ZeniMax acquisition stated that the company would not have an incentive to limit the availability of ZeniMax games on other platforms, as they are not significant enough to impact competition in the console space. The EU's statement suggests that Microsoft did not break any promises, as it was never formally obligated to release Bethesda titles on rival platforms. While the EU has not commented on the potential impact of Call of Duty becoming exclusive, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority has expressed concerns that such a move would harm competition. Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been approved by Brazil and Saudi Arabia, but it still faces in-depth investigations by the EU and the CMA.