Nvidia and Google Reportedly Opposed Microsoft’s Proposed Activision Blizzard Acquisition

According to a recent Bloomberg report, Nvidia and Google have expressed their concerns about Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Both companies reportedly stated in their comments to the FTC that the deal could give Microsoft an unfair advantage in cloud gaming, subscription-based gaming services, and mobile gaming.

This aligns with the FTC’s position in its lawsuit to block the deal, which was filed in December 2022, over concerns that Microsoft will use ownership of Activision Blizzard to harm competition in multiple gaming markets. Nvidia operates the GeForce Now cloud gaming service and could be worried by the potential for Activision Blizzard’s games to become exclusive to Microsoft’s competing Xbox Cloud Gaming service.

While Nvidia did not directly oppose the deal, they emphasized the need for equal and open access to game titles. A Microsoft representative told Bloomberg that the company is “prepared to address and have been proactively addressing issues raised by regulators or competitors to ensure that the deal closes with confidence. We want people to have more access to games, not less.”