The EU is reportedly launching an "advanced probe" into Microsoft's Activision Blizzard buyout

Activision Blizzard lawsuit
(Image credit: Activision Blizzard)

The European Commission is reportedly planning to ramp up its investigation into Microsoft's $70 billion Activision Blizzard purchase after the tech giant declined to file remedies to appease regulators' concerns.

Politico reports that antitrust enforcers gave Microsoft a deadline of midnight tonight to submit formal commitments that might make the EU’s competition department feel better about the Activision Blizzard deal, and Microsoft decided against doing so. The EU has until November 8 to launch what's being called a "phase 2" of its probe, and it sounds like that's the plan at this point.

Like regulators in the UK, the EU's competition department worries Microsoft might make Call of Duty an Xbox-exclusive franchise if it owns the series' publisher, which could be seen as anti-competitive. However, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has repeatedly assured that the plan is to keep Call of Duty multiplatform. Just this week, Spencer told Same Brain that "as long as there's a PlayStation out there to ship to, our intent is that we continue to ship Call of Duty on PlayStation." He also recently said he'd like to "treat Call of Duty like Minecraft" and make it available on as many platforms as possible.

Despite scrutiny from around the world, Spencer has said he's "pretty confident" the deal will close, though he admits the transaction "keeps me up at night sometimes." He also said that regulators are "asking good, honest questions about a big deal." Microsoft's target for closing the deal is still at the end of its fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023.

Despite Microsoft's looming purchase of Activision Blizzard, Call of Duty just had its biggest PlayStation launch ever with Modern Warfare 2.

Jordan Gerblick

After scoring a degree in English from ASU, I worked as a copy editor while freelancing for places like SFX Magazine, Screen Rant, Game Revolution, and MMORPG on the side. Now, as GamesRadar's west coast Staff Writer, I'm responsible for managing the site's western regional executive branch, AKA my apartment, and writing about whatever horror game I'm too afraid to finish.

Read more
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Ubisoft "won't comment" on reports of Tencent buyout, only says it's "exploring different options" and "will inform the market if and when a transaction materializes"
thor looking into the camera with a steely stare
"Both Marvel Rivals and Overwatch are excellent superhero shooters" says the Chinese publisher behind both games as they make the move to China: "The market is large enough to accommodate both games"
Overwatch 2 support hero Lucio
Blizzard hands out refunds for a $28 Overwatch 2 skin after making it a free Twitch drop just 24 hours post-release
Xbox Game Pass showing Avowed, Indiana Jones, Black Ops 6 and more
With Indiana Jones and Forza Horizon 5 ports, Phil Spencer isn't "trying to move" Nintendo Switch and PS5 players "over to Xbox anymore"
Assassin's Creed Shadows cinematic screenshot
Ubisoft shareholder plans protest in response to mismanagement, Assassin's Creed Shadows delays, and alleged acquisition talks with Microsoft and EA
Hi-Fi Rush
Microsoft veteran and former Blizzard president knows "loyal Xbox gamers are mad" about exclusives launching on PS5 and Nintendo Switch but "that isn't going to change anything"
Latest in Games
Schedule 1
Schedule 1 is Steam's latest viral hit – an open-world drug dealing simulator with 98% positive reviews, co-op, and a free sample to get you started
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Reclaiming their crown, pacifist Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 player beats the whole RPG as "Merciful Henry": 1,741 strikes blocked, 472 knockouts, and zero kills
Somehow this keeps happening: Another game with a Persona 5 collab is going under, and this time it's JRPG comrade War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
Fortnite character Jonesy looks shocked in the story trailer for Season X.
Former PlayStation boss "deathly concerned" about ballooning budgets of AAA games, questions how many live-service "forever games" like GTA Online and Fortnite fans really have time for
Arcs board game box on top of the board alongside tokens, dice, and cards laid out on a wooden table
Time to destroy cities and provoke some outrage, apparently, 'cause the Arcs board game is on offer
Top-down screenshot of Monsterpatch, showing a grid-based town with Pokemon-like creatures, GBC graphics and vegetations sprinkled about.
This cozy RPG promises a Pokemon and Stardew Valley mashup with "limitless customization," 208 monsters, and more, so no wonder its Kickstarter was funded in just 16 minutes
Latest in News
Schedule 1
Schedule 1 is Steam's latest viral hit – an open-world drug dealing simulator with 98% positive reviews, co-op, and a free sample to get you started
Kingdom Come Deliverance 2
Reclaiming their crown, pacifist Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 player beats the whole RPG as "Merciful Henry": 1,741 strikes blocked, 472 knockouts, and zero kills
Somehow this keeps happening: Another game with a Persona 5 collab is going under, and this time it's JRPG comrade War of the Visions: Final Fantasy Brave Exvius
Fortnite character Jonesy looks shocked in the story trailer for Season X.
Former PlayStation boss "deathly concerned" about ballooning budgets of AAA games, questions how many live-service "forever games" like GTA Online and Fortnite fans really have time for
Arcs board game box on top of the board alongside tokens, dice, and cards laid out on a wooden table
Time to destroy cities and provoke some outrage, apparently, 'cause the Arcs board game is on offer
Top-down screenshot of Monsterpatch, showing a grid-based town with Pokemon-like creatures, GBC graphics and vegetations sprinkled about.
This cozy RPG promises a Pokemon and Stardew Valley mashup with "limitless customization," 208 monsters, and more, so no wonder its Kickstarter was funded in just 16 minutes