Microsoft Corp. struck a deal with cloud gaming service Boosteroid, as it fights for its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. that’s under intense regulatory scrutiny.
(Bloomberg) — Microsoft Corp. struck a deal with cloud gaming service Boosteroid, as it fights for its $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. that’s under intense regulatory scrutiny.
Microsoft said Tuesday it’s reached a 10-year agreement with Boosteroid to bring Xbox PC games to the cloud gaming platform. Customers of Boosteroid, whose software development team is in Ukraine, would also be able to stream Activision titles — including the blockbuster Call of Duty — if Microsoft’s takeover is cleared.
Pressure has been mounting on Microsoft as it battles multiple fronts at home and in Europe to convince watchdogs to clear the deal, the company’s largest ever and one of the 30 biggest acquisitions of all time.
The US Federal Trade Commission sued to veto the transaction and Britain’s antitrust watchdog suggested Microsoft may need to divest Call of Duty — one of the most lucrative game franchises in the world — to assuage concerns, but Microsoft president Brad Smith’s already made clear this would be a dealbreaker.
“Bringing Xbox PC games to Boosteroid members, including Activision Blizzard titles such as ‘Call of Duty’ once the deal closes, is yet another step in realizing that vision” and “to give everyone more ways to play their favorite games, across devices,” Phil Spencer, Microsoft’s chief executive officer of gaming, said.
Microsoft’s struck similar deals with Nintendo Co. and Nvidia Corp. to share the game with their platforms and it’s offered its main rival Sony Group Corp. a similar 10-year license for the blockbuster game. Sony last week said the offer “would irreparably harm” the gaming industry.
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