China Hands Microsoft Administrative Fine Over Xbox Venture

Microsoft and its Chinese partner in an Xbox game console venture have been fined by China's commerce ministry for breaching antitrust rules but escaped serious punishment after it deemed they did not hamper free market competition.

Microsoft and Shanghai Oriental Pearl Media Co Ltd, known as BesTV, were fined CNY 200,000 (roughly Rs. 20,75,000) each for failing to report to antitrust regulators that their joint venture exceeded a market share threshold that usually triggers a disclosure requirement.

Microsoft and BesTV formed a venture in 2013 to bring the Xbox to China after the government lifted a 14-year ban on consoles.

The Xbox investigation, which did not find Xbox in serious violation of any antitrust rules, was unrelated to an ongoing probe by China's National Development and Reform Commission into Microsoft's Windows operating system and Office software sales practices.

Last week, Microsoft launched three Xbox One bundles in India, celebrating the 1-year anniversary of the console in the country. First up was the Forza 6 Limited Edition console. It sports a 1TB hard drive, wireless controller, a digital copy of Forza 6 - which we found to be a rather compelling game despite some minor niggles - and most importantly, a slick blue paint job.

Second was the 1TB EA Sports FIFA 16 Bundle. It comes with the obvious 1TB hard drive, and a FIFA 16 download code along with three FIFA Ultimate Team Loan Legends, and a year's worth of EA Access - EA's game subscription program. The third was the Xbox One Gears of War: Ultimate Edition Bundle, consisting of a 500GB console, digital download for Gears of War: Ultimate Edition, early access to the 2016 Gears of War 4 Multiplayer Beta, and a cosmetic downloadable skin for multiplayer use in Gears of War: Ultimate Edition known as the Superstar Cole multiplayer skin.

Written with inputs from Reuters