The Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard is still pending, and while we have our own reservations on whether the toxic culture at the company can be adequately addressed following a completed deal, a more important issue is whether regulators will allow it to happen.

This as in recent years, greater scrutiny has been placed on deals of this nature, which if completed would give Microsoft far greater power in the gaming industry. That’s saying something given that already wields a considerable amount and has also been on spending spree of late picking up other game studios.

In order to quell any concerns, Microsoft’s president and vice chair Brad Smith recently published a blog post regarding the Xbox Store and how it could potentially open up access in order to keep in line with regulations, given that its library will grow significantly if Activision Blizzard is added to the mix.

“Today we’re announcing a new set of Open App Store Principles that will apply to the Microsoft Store on Windows and to the next-generation marketplaces we will build for games. We have developed these principles in part to address Microsoft’s growing role and responsibility as we start the process of seeking regulatory approval in capitals around the world for our acquisition of Activision Blizzard,” wrote Smith.

“This regulatory process begins while many governments are also moving forward with new laws to promote competition in app markets and beyond. We want regulators and the public to know that as a company, Microsoft is committed to adapting to these new laws, and with these principles, we’re moving to do so,” he added.

Smith unpacked nearly a dozen different plans for the Xbox Store down the line, paying particular mention to what would happen when it comes to transparency, privacy and developers.

The latter element got the most attention, highlighting points that have come up in recent legal proceedings between developers and app marketplaces.

• “We will not require developers in our app store to use our payment system to process in-app payments.

• We will not require developers in our app store to provide more favorable terms in our app store than in other app stores.

• We will not disadvantage developers if they choose to use a payment processing system other than ours or if they offer different terms and conditions in other app stores.

• We will not prevent developers from communicating directly with their customers through their apps for legitimate business purposes, such as pricing terms and product or service offerings.”

Whether this will indeed appease regulators in the US remains to be seen, but it is clear that Microsoft is willing to go to great lengths in order to ensure there are as few hurdles as possible in getting this acquisition over the line.

“Ultimately, we believe that this principled approach will promote a more open app market and better serve our users and creators alike. And, in turn, they will help us build a bigger and better gaming business,” Smith concluded.