Did Microsoft Just Figure Out A Way To Get The Activision-Blizzard Acquisition Approved?

According to a recent report from The New York Times, Microsoft reportedly offered Sony a contract that would see Call of Duty remains on PlayStations for the next ten years. While this seems like a sign of good faith, Dot Esports is saying that this may actually be a “potential requirement” to get regulators to approve Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard.

Reuters is reporting that this offer would be the main part of concessions that Microsoft would have to make in order to have its acquisition of Activision-Blizzard approved by European and UK regulators. Some other concessions would also reportedly reduce Microsoft’s ability to create a potential gaming monopoly. If Microsoft is able to make these concessions, Dot Esports says that the regulatory investigations into the acquisition deal could be shortened.

“Sony, as the industry leader, says it is worried about Call of Duty, but we’ve said we are committed to making the same game available on the same day on both Xbox and PlayStation,” a spokesperson for Microsoft told Reuters. “We want people to have more access to games, not less.”

Sony has been adamantly opposed to the potential acquisition of Activision-Blizzard for quite some time. However, this proposed agreement could lead to a change of tune for one of Microsoft’s biggest competitors.

Last month, the European Union launched an investigation into Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. The EU has until March 23rd, 2023 to make a decision on the deal.

(All information was provided by Dot Esports [1,2], Reuters, and The Washington Post)