Microsoft: Popular brands of Activision Blizzard continues on PlayStation, New Store

Microsoft has set up new rules for its App Store to promote fairness, transparency and freedom. This announcement follows in response to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the European Union. With this law, a balance between the so-called “gatekeeper” and the dependent service providers and users will be ensured. Thus, the company also wants to clear any concerns of the American antitrust office FTC (we reported) and facilitate the way to approve the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Because of this deal, the question in the room is whether Microsoft would achieve a monopoly. The new rules are a concession from Microsoft and should signal compromise readiness. In the blog contribution to the new App Store rules, Microsoft President Brad Smith also confirmed that popular Activision Blizzard Games, such as Call of Duty, will continue to be offered on existing arrangements on other consoles as the PlayStation. Nintendos switch console was also mentioned in this context. She should continue to be a platform for title by Activision Blizzardgenne in the future.

Furthermore, it has been anchored in the new rules that Microsoft will hold its own apps to the same standards used for third-party apps to compete for all under the same conditions. Microsoft also says that all apps in the Microsoft Store will handle the same and its own apps for rankings and promotions are not “inappropriate” preferred. The rules for the marketing and application of apps in the Microsoft Store will also be clear and transparent.

However, one of the most important rules is that developers are allowed to use their own payment systems for in-app purchases. This makes it possible developers to implement their own payment routes without paying the usual 30 percent commission to Microsoft. Although this change is not new, as Studios can already use their own payment options in the Windows Store since last year, this time, Microsoft is publicly committed to maintaining this scheme permanently. Unlike Apple’s iOS or Google’s Android, Windows will continue to make possible applications from other App Stores and will not impose your own App Store.

But so far only applies to the Windows store. For the store on the Xbox consoles, the new rules do not apply (yet). Studios must still use the payment routes given by Microsoft for their games for the time being and pay the 30 percent commission. In the blog post, however, it is said that this gap should be closed and in the future can also be available on Xbox consoles alternative pay routes.