Microsoft Announces 10-Year Xbox Cloud Deal With UK Carrier EE

Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming announced this morning a 10-year cloud gaming deal with the UK mobile carrier EE. The announcement follows other 10-year commitments Microsoft signed with Nintendo, Nvidia, and other companies to bring Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard games to more gamers once Microsoft closes its proposed acquisition of the company.

This new deal with EE is actually an expansion of Microsoft’s existing partnership with the UK carrier. Indeed, EE already offers its customers the opportunity to add an Xbox Series X|S console or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription to their monthly plan. With this expanded partnership, Microsoft is now committed to making ABK games available to EE customers.

In the words of Phil Spencer, “Microsoft and EE are expanding our partnership with a 10-year commitment in cloud gaming to bring PC games built by Activision Blizzard, following the acquisition, and Xbox to customers. We are committed to bring more games to more people, however they choose to play,” the exec said.

Microsoft and @EE are expanding our partnership with a 10-year commitment in cloud gaming to bring PC games built by Activision Blizzard, following the acquisition, and Xbox to @EE customers. We are committed to bring more games to more people, however they choose to play.

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) April 11, 2023

Microsoft expanding its partnership with EE comes right after the UK’s Competition Market and Authority changed its stance regarding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The antitrust regulator recently acknowledged that the acquisition would not reduce competition in the console market.

However, Microsoft isn’t out of the woods yet as the CMA is still investigating the impact of the acquisition on the cloud gaming industry. The EU is also still investigating the deal and it has until May 22 to announce the conclusions of its in-depth review.