A closed hearing regarding Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard will take place Tuesday. Microsoft’s President Brad Smith will attempt to convince EU regulators that the $69 billion bid for the acquisition will boost the gaming market competition and not hinder it.
Activision will be represented by its CEO Robert Kotick while Smith will lead a delegation of 18 senior executives. Other organizations, such as Sony which is publicly against the acquisition, will be sending representatives to the hearing.
Video game publishers and distributors from Germany, Belgium, Finland, the Czech Republic, France, Italy, Portugal, Sweden and Spain will also be present, as well as Google and Nvidia Corp representatives.
"The European Commission asked for our views in the course of their inquiries into this issue. We will continue to cooperate in any processes, when requested, to ensure all views are considered," a Google spokesperson said.
Following legal complaints against Microsoft that the acquisition of Activision Blizzard could kill the market by both the Federal Trade Commission and a group of united Call of Duty gamers, Microsoft took an open stance toward the conflict and sought to address public concerns.
"I think we will make clear that our acquisition of Activision Blizzard will bring more games to more people on more devices and platforms than ever before," Smith told reporters before the closed hearing.
The hearing will allow the Xbox maker to react to regulatory concerns from the U.S., Britain and Europe, as well as to discuss similarities between Microsoft’s bid for acquisition and previous Call of Duty licensing offers.
Conclusions from the hearing are yet to be reported on.
