These were the third party cloud gaming providers mentioned by the CMA in the provisional findings:
- NVIDIA GFN
- Facebook Gaming
- Google Stadia
- PlayStation Now
- Nintendo Switch Online
- Shadow
- Amazon Luna
- Antstream Arcade
Boosteroid wasn't even there.
Maybe they'll try to get an agreement with Facebook and Amazon too? In any case, Facebook Gaming + Nintendo Switch Online were excluded because they were considered materially different to xCloud.
Whatever the case may be, pushing the relevant customer benefits (RCB) numbers is probably one of the best strategies right now to try to make the behavioural remedies work for the CMA.
We'll see if that's enough.
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Boosteroid was mentioned as a "lesser-known provider" though.
So likely Microsoft looks to make deals with the others; Utomik, Blacknut, Gamestream, Wiztivi.
As for the big ones mentioned.
- Nvidia GeForce Now - Deal
- Facebook Gaming - Excluded by CMA.
- Google Stadia - Dead
- PlayStation Now - Likely Included in PS+ Offer.
- Nintendo Switch Online - Excluded by CMA.
- Shadow - Supports Any Game Regardless.
- Amazon Luna
- Antstream Arcade - Retro Titles Only.
Will have to research more about Shadow but they may not need a deal with how they work.
Really only leaves Amazon and Shadow as the last two in CMA's own assessment for the big companies.
4 left in the smaller companies, Microsoft can make deals with them easy.
