As anticipated, the European Commission will perform a into Microsoft’s to purchase Activision Blizzard. Following a preliminary probe, the European Commission introduced Tuesday () it believes the deal might “significantly reduce competition” in a handful of areas, together with the PC and console gaming markets, in addition to amongst cloud gaming providers.

According to the Commission’s antitrust officers, Microsoft has the potential financial incentive to stop opponents from accessing Activision Blizzard’s “high-profile and highly successful games,” together with new Call of Duty entries. The physique notes it’s additionally involved the deal may unfairly benefit Windows towards competing PC working programs. On the floor, that looks like an odd concern, however it’s price stating that the success of units just like the Steam Deck has made Linux one thing of a viable different to Windows.

With in the present day’s announcement, the European Commission now has 90 days to finish its probe, a timeline meaning a choice would arrive on March twenty third, 2023 on the newest.

“For years, Microsoft has been a major player across the gaming supply chain. It is acquiring Activision Blizzard, a highly successful producer of gaming content. We must ensure that opportunities remain for future and existing distributors of PC and console video games, as well as for rival suppliers of PC operating systems,” stated Margrethe Vestager, the chief vice chairman of competitors coverage. “The point is to ensure that the gaming ecosystem remains vibrant to the benefit of users in a sector that is evolving at a fast pace.”

Microsoft didn’t instantly reply to Engadget’s request for remark. Following the Commission’s announcement, Activision Blizzard revealed a from CEO Bobby Kotick. “This week the European Commission announced that we have entered the second phase of our review in the region. We will continue to cooperate with the European Commission where, in the countries they represent, we have many employees,” Kotick wrote. “We have been working closely with Microsoft to actively engage regulators in other key countries to answer their questions and provide them with information to assist with their review.”

The Commission received’t essentially block the deal, however it may considerably delay the transaction and power concessions out of Microsoft. Xbox head Phil Spencer has proactively tried to placate regulators. “We’re not taking Call of Duty from PlayStation. That’s not our intent,” he recently said. “Our intent is not to do that and as long as there’s a PlayStation out there to ship to, our intent is that we’ll continue to ship Call of Duty on PlayStation.”