Microsoft ‘confident’ it can address EU concerns after receiving antitrust warning over Activision deal

Microsoft has said it’s “confident” it can address EU concerns after being issued with an antirust warning over its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

As expected, this week the EU issued Microsoft with a charge sheet setting out its concerns about the $69 billion deal, Politico reports.

In response to the EU’s statement of objections, Microsoft told the publication it is committed to “finding a path forward” for the deal.

“We are listening carefully to the European Commission’s concerns and are confident we can address them,” a spokesperson said.

What would be the games industry’s biggest ever deal by far has been met with fierce opposition from Sony and concerns from European, US and UK regulators.

While the EU’s charge sheet hasn’t been publicly released, regulators have expressed concerns that the acquisition could significantly reduce PlayStation’s ability to compete given that it would see Microsoft gain ownership of the Call of Duty series, which Sony has called “irreplaceable”.

In a bid to address these concerns, Microsoft recently said it had offered Sony a 10-year, legally enforceable contract to make each new Call of Duty game available on PlayStation the same day it comes to Xbox.

Further reading

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Microsoft accuses Sony of misleading EU over Call of Duty parity

Comms boss claims SIE is "briefing people in Brussels claiming Microsoft is unwilling to offer them parity"

Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan reportedly met EU antitrust boss Margrethe Vestager last week to discuss the company’s concerns about Microsoft’s plans.

Shortly after, Microsoft accused Sony of misleading the EU regulator over its commitment to keeping Call of Duty on PlayStation, should the acquisition be approved.

The European Commission is scheduled to rule on the deal by April 11.