Smith will lead a delegation of 18 senior executives, including Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, while Activision will be represented by CEO Robert Kotick. Commission document seen by Reuters.
Listening will allow Xbox maker of Microsoft to gauge sentiment among senior EU officials and national competition authorities and Commission lawyers ahead of presenting remedies to address antitrust concerns.
Microsoft announced the acquisition last January to take on the leaders tencent And sonybut faced hurdles from regulators in Europe, the UK and the US.
Sony, which wants the deal to be blocked, sends its gaming executive, Jim Ryan.
Alphabet-owned Google chip designer and computer firm Nvidia Corp, which is in the gaming business, will also take part in the hearings, according to the EU document.
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“The European Commission has requested our opinion in the course of its investigation of this matter. We will continue to cooperate in any process where necessary to ensure that all views are considered,” a Google spokesperson said. Nvidia declined to comment. The European Game Developers Federation (EGDF), which said the deal would allow Microsoft to challenge Apple, Google and Tencent, is one of the participants.
The event will also be attended by video game distributor Valve, video game publisher Electronic Arts and the German competition watchdog, as well as their counterparts in Belgium, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.