Microsoft is taking an fascinating method to safe regulatory approval for its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. In a noticed by , the corporate informed New Zealand’s Commerce Commission the produces no “must have” video games. Yes, you learn that proper.

“There is nothing unique about the video games developed and published by Activision Blizzard that is a ‘must have’ for rival PC and console video game distributors that give rise to a foreclosure concern,” the corporate says within the doc. Put one other approach, Microsoft believes proudly owning the rights to best-selling Activision Blizzard franchises like Call of Duty received’t forestall rivals like Sony from competing towards it.

At first look, that will appear to be a nonsensical argument to make about an organization Microsoft plans to spend to amass. All the identical, it’s a declare the tech big is making in response to its rivals. In a , Sony referred to as Call of Duty “an essential game” and an AAA title “that has no rival.” It argues the franchise is so well-liked that it influences the consoles individuals purchase. Sony is probably going talking from expertise. In 2015, the corporate introduced an settlement with Activision that noticed some Call of Duty content material first.

Downplaying the significance of Call of Duty is simply one of many methods Microsoft has tried to placate regulators. In February, the corporate it could proceed to make the franchise obtainable on PlayStation consoles past the tip of any agreements Sony and Activision had in place earlier than the acquisition was introduced. More just lately, the corporate introduced a with the Communications Workers of America, which has been online game staff throughout the business.