by 
While Microsoft’s attempts to buy the beleaguered publisher Activision Blizzard start hitting some serious checkpointsthe software giant is being forced to make some concessions in an attempt to seal the deal.
One of them is a series of promises to rival platform holders which, should Microsoft be successful with its purchase, the best-selling call of Duty series would remain on their systems for the next ten years (at least). The offer it went quite well with Valve and was professionally recognized by Nintendobut Sony, Microsoft’s main rival in the console space, is reportedly not so keen.
This is understandable from Sony! They have a lot to lose if the Activision sale goes through, and Microsoft knows it. that’s why they’re becoming more and more public about their frustration with PlayStation.
Some of that frustration could be explained from this new report on Bloombergwho says it as well as promise it call of Duty games would remain on PlayStation for at least the next decade as standalone retail titles (as well as arriving the same day they arrived on other systems), Microsoft also told Sony the series could be offered on the service PlayStation Plus subscription.
Microsoft’s Game Pass subscription service has drastically changed the gaming landscape over the last few years, and a lot of people just figured that putting the call of Duty series on Xbox’s subscription platform, at Sony’s expense, would have been one of the driving forces behind Activision’s entire purchase in the first place.
G/O Media may receive a commission
So this report, if true, is certainly a surprise. It’s important to note that this isn’t a recent addition to the pledge, made to sweeten the deal for a reluctant rival; Bloomberg says the Play Station Plus aspect was part of the original 10-year deal that Sony is clearly not happy with (an offer made when Microsoft’s initial 3-year promise was rejected).
The FTC they’re not even happy with Microsoft’s attempts to buy Activision. Neither the European Union, which has “opened a large-scale investigation” into the proposed deal, saying in a statement:
The Commission’s investigation shows that the transaction may significantly reduce competition on the markets for the distribution of video games for consoles and PCs, including multi-game subscription services and/or cloud game streaming services, and PC operating systems.
The preliminary investigation suggests that Microsoft may have the ability, as well as a potential financial incentive, to engage in foreclosure strategies against rival distributors of Microsoft’s console video games.
In the UK, however, it is the Competition and Markets Authority also investigating the deal, said the merger “may result in a material decrease in competition within any market or markets in the UK for goods or services”.
