FTC v. Microsoft: all the news from the big Xbox courtroom battle
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The FTC says it’s difficult to judge harm in a nascent market like cloud as it’s a market that’s still seeing new competition. It also argues that cloud gaming is a separate market, whereas Microsoft says it’s simply a feature.
Microsoft acquiring Activision content could have an impact on smaller cloud gaming services and emerging ones.
“The role that smaller entrants have can be greater than in other mature markets because if they can’t get access to content then harm from foreclosure could be magnified in the future,” says Dr. Lee.
The European Commission agreed a free license to consumers in EU countries that would allow them to stream via “any cloud game streaming services of their choice” all current and future Activision Blizzard PC and console games that they have a license for. Cloud providers will also be offered a free license to stream these games in EU markets. Microsoft has already claimed it will apply this automatic offer globally, but the FTC has largely dismissed Microsoft’s potential cloud agreements.
