Microsoft inks licensing deal with cloud gaming provider Boosteroid

Microsoft on Tuesday signed a 10-year licensing deal to deliver Activision’s Call of Duty franchise to cloud gaming supplier Boosteroid’s platform, a transfer partly geared toward allaying competitors issues over its Activision acquisition.

The Activision bid introduced in January final 12 months, Microsoft’s largest ever deal, goals to spice up its firepower within the booming videogaming market towards leaders Tencent and Sony, and lay the bottom for its funding in metaverse.

Ukraine-based Boosteroid’s entry to Call of Duty is conditional on regulatory approval for the Activision deal. The settlement can even deliver Microsoft’s Xbox PC video games to Boosteroid’s cloud gaming platform.

“We believe in the power of games to bring people together. That’s why Xbox is committed to give everyone more ways to play their favorite games, across devices,” mentioned Phil Spencer, chief govt of Microsoft’s gaming division.

“Bringing Xbox PC games to Boosteroid members, including Activision Blizzard titles such as ‘Call of Duty’ once the deal closes, is yet another step in realizing that vision,” he mentioned.

Microsoft has comparable licensing offers with Nvidia, Nintendo and U.S. distributor Valve Corp, proprietor of the world’s largest online game distribution platform, Steam.

EU antitrust regulators are anticipated to approve Microsoft’s takeover of Activision conditional on such licensing offers, individuals acquainted with the matter have informed Reuters. The UK watchdog nevertheless could possibly be harder to persuade. In addition to Ukraine, Boosteroid additionally has players within the United States, the United Kingdom and EU nations.

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