Microsoft has overhauled its proposal to acquire video game manufacturer Activision Blizzard, making adjustments to satisfy the demands of British competition regulators. These regulators represent the final significant obstacle to the completion of what stands as one of the most significant transactions in the history of the tech industry.
The Competition and Markets Authority has confirmed the initiation of a fresh preliminary examination into the revised agreement, setting a decision deadline for October 18th. In a strategic move, Microsoft, the creator behind Xbox, has been actively pursuing the acquisition of Activision, the renowned developer responsible for the highly popular Call of Duty game series. This ambitious deal, with a value of $69 billion, was initially unveiled in January 2022.
While this monumental agreement has garnered the approval of antitrust authorities across 40 different nations, including the European Union, it has encountered roadblocks in the United Kingdom. British authorities took steps to impede the deal earlier this year due to concerns that competition might be stifled within the burgeoning cloud gaming sector. In this realm, players can bypass the purchase of costly gaming consoles and instead stream games directly to their tablets or smartphones.
In response to these challenges, Microsoft has undertaken a thorough revision of the deal structure. As part of this new arrangement, Microsoft's President Brad Smith disclosed in a blog post that the company will transfer the cloud streaming rights for all present and future Activision game releases over the next 15 years to the French game studio Ubisoft Entertainment.
Microsoft Responds to Feedback, Expands Uninstall Options for Windows 11 Bloatware
Google to unveil the Beta Version for E Signature on board
Microsoft to Extend Bing AI Chat to Third-Party Browsers, Enhancing User Accessibility