Microsoft's Response To CMA Questions Details Potential Remedies And More

Over the past few weeks, Microsoft and other parties have filed documents with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority as the regulator determines its ruling on the proposed Microsoft-Activision Blizzard merger. On March 21, Microsoft filed supplemental answers to the regulator's questions, which include potential remedies based around the Call of Duty series--a key part of the proceedings. The CMA recently moved its deadline to make its final decision on the deal from April 25 to May 22.

The document begins with Microsoft reiterating that it does not want to make Call of Duty exclusive to the Xbox platform. Microsoft proposes two possible remedies to the CMA's concerns: a publishing agreement between Sony and Microsoft that would keep Call of Duty on PlayStation for 10 years, and a cloud gaming deal that would give worldwide licenses to consumers and cloud gaming providers to stream Activision PC games that they own. The filing notes that major cloud gaming company Nvidia supports this deal.

Many of the details of Microsoft and Sony's proposed deals are redacted from the public document. However, the filing does state that Microsoft would apply this remedy to the PS4, PS5, and any "successor consoles." Microsoft further states that it has "no incentive, or indeed ability, to take Call of Duty exclusive." The Xbox owner also says that the remedy will give PlayStation parity on release date, in terms of "content, features, upgrades, quality, and playability."