Microsoft is expanding its reach by securing a deal with another platform to improve its library of games. This is related to the tech giant’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft announced a new 10-year licensing deal to bring Xbox and Activision Blizzard titles to subscribers of UK mobile network operator and internet service provider EE. However, it is still unclear how subscribers can access the games.
The new deal was announced by Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer last Tuesday.
Microsoft and EE are expanding our partnership with a 10-year commitment in cloud gaming to bring PC games built by Activision Blizzard, following the acquisition, and Xbox to EE customers,” Spencer tweets. “We are committed to bring more games to more people, however they choose to play.”
Microsoft and @EE are expanding our partnership with a 10-year commitment in cloud gaming to bring PC games built by Activision Blizzard, following the acquisition, and Xbox to @EE customers. We are committed to bring more games to more people, however they choose to play.
— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 11, 2023
Xbox has previously partnered with EE, as the mobile and internet provider explored the gaming space. Users can charge the Xbox Game Pass monthly fee to their mobile subscriptions at a reduced cost with EE Smart Benefits.
The discounted Xbox Game Pass subscription offer already gives players access to titles on the Xbox console, Cloud, and PC. It is unclear what added benefits will be included with this new ten-year deal as EE is not operating a streaming platform.
Perhaps this new deal would additional reduction in cost or unlimited access to internet bandwidth for subscribers. Other mobile companies around the world have partnerships that allow the use of free data for certain games. Microsoft could also offer discounts on titles that are not a part of the Xbox Game Pass.
EE is the latest company to sign a deal with Microsoft. This follows the deals signed by Boosteroid, Ubitus, and Nvidia.
Microsoft is doing everything it can to convince UK antitrust regulators that it is not planning to make its games exclusive. The UK CMA, EU Commission, and US FTC have raised concerns that the tech giant would withhold titles such as Call of Duty on other platforms if the deal gets approved.
However, in its latest provisional findings, the UK CMA does not see a significant reduction in competition even if Microsoft chooses to make Call of Duty an exclusive title. The UK regulator argues that withholding access to Call of Duty would do more harm to Microsoft.
Sony has called the UK CMA’s reversal of its previous findings “surprising, unprecedented, and irrational.” The PlayStation maker argues that there are flaws in the data that the CMA used in its findings.
The UK CMA has until April 26 to complete its final report ruling on the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard merger.
