© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard logo in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Microsoft (NASDAQ:) will make a last-ditch effort to defend its $69 billion bid for “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard (NASDAQ:) in front of EU and national antitrust officials at a closed hearing on Feb. 21, the U.S. software company said on Tuesday.
The company asked for the hearing after receiving a statement of objections from the European Commission warning about the possible anti-competitive effects of the deal.
A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the oral hearing.
The Xbox maker announced the Activision Blizzard acquisition in January last year to help it compete better with leaders Tencent and Sony (NYSE:), but has run into regulatory headwinds in Europe, Britain and the United States.
Microsoft is expected to offer remedies after the hearing.
It has reached a 10-year deal with Nintendo to make “Call of Duty” available on Nintendo consoles, a remedy aimed at convincing competition enforcers but which has been criticised by Sony, which wants the deal to be blocked.
