Microsoft Set to Acquire Activision Blizzard in the Upcoming Week
Microsoft's Lengthy Pursuit of Activision Blizzard Nearing $69 Billion Buyout Conclusion Next Week.
According to The Verge, Microsoft is poised to finalize its acquisition of the company responsible for Call of Duty on Friday, October 13, pending the final nod from the UK. This development is expected to occur just five days before the agreed-upon October 18 deadline between Microsoft and Activision.
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) gave provisional approval to Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard last month after a revised deal was submitted, which included the divestment of its cloud gaming division to Ubisoft, the creator of Assassin's Creed. The final green light from the CMA is anticipated in the upcoming week, paving the way for Microsoft to immediately complete the merger.
Microsoft has already triumphed over the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in a legal battle, gained approval from the European Commission, and secured a pact with console rival Sony to provide Activision games on PlayStation for the next decade.
It's important to note that the FTC has lodged an appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the United States, but a decision on this matter isn't expected until early December. Additionally, the FTC has its own administrative case in the pipeline, which will only commence 21 days after the Ninth Circuit's decision on the appeal. The FTC seems to be aiming to unravel the merger after it has been completed, although experts believe such a move would be without precedent.
Attention is already shifting towards Microsoft's plans for integrating the Activision Blizzard business and the future of popular games like Call of Duty. In an August interview with IGN, Xbox chief Phil Spencer hinted that significant work would be required to bring Activision Blizzard's games onto Game Pass once the acquisition is finalized.
"I want to make sure people know that there's work to actually move games to Game Pass," Spencer explained. "So, for the people who think the deal is going to close and then everything's available, that's not true. And it hasn't been true in other acquisitions that we've done. There's work for us to go do, just mechanical work for us to go do. So, it'll take us time, definitely time to get the games in the portfolio."
