European gamers greeted with post Activision acquisition pop up
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Key notes
- New Software and License Agreement for Activision Gamers in Europe
- Microsoft offering a free license to EEA gamers to stream select games through any cloud services that supports them.
- One time pop up on the next boot up of Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone™, and Crash Team Rumble ™
As part of a long and drawn-out regulatory battle between Microsoft, Activision Blizzard and the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK, Call of Duty gamers in the region will now be greeted with a new license and services agreement.
New Activision Software and License Agreement
Xbox Wire editor-in-chief Joe Skrebels addressed the upcoming pop up for EEA gamers with an explanation and details on the new Software License and Service Agreement users will now need to opt-in for.
We met this commitment in October, and are now reflecting these changes in four live service games that have an in-game software licensing agreement. While many of you may have already been streaming Activision Blizzard titles, beginning today, the next time you boot up Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone™, and Crash Team Rumble ™ you will be asked to accept an updated Software License and Service Agreement.
Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire Editor-in-Chief
What are the details?
As of October 13, Microsoft is offering a free Streaming Provider License under the following terms:
“Microsoft licenses its rights under a non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable license to Eligible Streaming Services to stream Eligible Games for the sole benefit of Consumers in accordance with the Consumer License, as defined in and pursuant to the Commitments entered into by Microsoft and made legally binding by the European Commission in its decision under Article 8(2) of Regulation (EC) 139/2004 in case M. 10646 -Microsoft/Activision Blizzard.”
Microsoft
The long and short of the new pop up that will appear before Call of Duty®: Modern Warfare® II, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, Call of Duty: Warzone™, and Crash Team Rumble ™ on players next boot up, is legal affirmation that Microsoft is honoring the CMA’s licensing wishes.
To get its Activision Blizzard deal over the finish line, Microsoft conceded to a licensing deal that would offer a free license to EEA gamers to stream those titles through any cloud game streaming service that supports the games listed above.
The broader view of Microsoft’s licensing deal was expanded to include Ubisoft as a third-party arbiter of the Call of Duty license which it will hold for the next 15 years while allowing other new or existing cloud streaming game platforms same-day access to any games Activision may eventually place on Xbox’s cloud streaming service.
The Xbox team assures gamers in the EEA that the new pop up is a one-time occurrence to facilitate the agreed upon terms between Microsoft and the CMA regarding the recently approved $68.2 billion acquisition of the US-based publisher.
For more details on the pop or general knowledge of Microsoft’s new commitments to EEA gamers visit the following links here and here.
