Microsoft and Activision chiefs testify merger will benefit consumers

Satya Nadella, the chief executive of Microsoft, appeared in federal court on Wednesday to pledge his support for open platforms and consumer choice, underscoring the tech giant’s commitment to closing its $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard over regulators’ objections.

“If it was up to me, I would love to get rid of the entire ‘exclusives on consoles,’” Nadella testified, rebutting claims from tech regulators that Microsoft’s deal for the video game giant would curtail competition and restrict Activision’s games only to players on Microsoft’s Xbox console. “I have no love for that world.”

The fourth day of a hearing in US District Court in San Francisco that could determine the deal’s outcome was the highest-profile session,