Microsoft lays out new app store rules as it seeks approval of its Activision deal

Microsoft Corp. began to make the case in Washington for its purchase of game giant Activision Blizzard Inc., laying out new data-collection, competition and payment policies for its Xbox and Windows software stores that it says address regulators' broader concerns about rival app stores. The company, which last month agreed to acquire Activision for $69 billion, also pledged Wednesday to keep making Call of Duty games for Sony Corp.'s rival PlayStation console even after its contractual commitment ends. "We want to be clear with regulators and with the public that if this acquisition is approved, they can count on Microsoft to adapt to the rules that are emerging and run our business in a responsible way," Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith said at a press event. At the briefing, Microsoft's top executives explained the company's app-store principles for its Microsoft and Xbox stores, where users can purchase personal-computer software as well as PC and Xbox games. They include a promise not to use any nonpublic data from the app store to compete with apps made by rival developers and to avoid "unreasonable preferencing our apps over others." Microsoft also said it wouldn't require developers to use its payment system for in-app purchases, although that stipulation and a few others won't initially apply to the Xbox store.