US tech giant Microsoft has completed its acquisition of games giant Activision Blizzard.
06.10.2023 - 23:53 / destructoid.com / Phil Spencer / Jim Ryan / Next Week
It would seem Microsoft’s long, uphill battle to acquire Activision Blizzard could be nearing its end. The Verge reports via an unnamed source that the deal could be closed by the end of next week, though they mentioned that is still tentative, as the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority could still threaten the successful closure of Microsoft’s long-sought deal.
If the deal is indeed closed by its target date of October 13 — Friday the 13th — that will mark the end of a nearly two-year long process for Microsoft to add the Call of Duty publisher to its rank and file.
It all began on January 18, 2022 when the deal was announced. In the nearly two years since the process began, a big concern has been whether or not this deal would impede competition in the gaming space. The focus has been on Call of Duty, a franchise that has been multi-platform for most of its life, but the concern could be applied to a great many franchises.
It’s a valid anxiety to have, given Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda Game Studios has made The Elder Scrolls VI, part of a series that has also been multiplatform since The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, to be exclusive to PC and Xbox. But, at least in regards to the Call of Duty franchise, Xbox head Phil Spencer committed to continuing its legacy as a multiplatform series. That hasn’t exactly impressed everyone involved in this debacle, including outgoing PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan.
Microsoft’s attempt to purchase Activision Blizzard has gone through several regulatory reviews, including a court battle with the United States Federal Trade Commission where Microsoft eventually won out. The FTC is appealing the outcome of its decision after failing to block it, with a decision on its appeal due to arrive in December. Otherwise, CMA has stood as essentially the last barrier to the deal going through, initially blocking the acquisition and now reconsidering after a restructuring of the deal.
As mentioned, the deal is not set in stone, though the CMA has an incoming deadline of today to gather opinion on whether it will allow the acquisition to continue. If the deal is greenlit to close on October 13, it will beat the revised deal deadline of October 18 by a narrow margin, thus ending this long and drawn-out acquisition.
US tech giant Microsoft has completed its acquisition of games giant Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft has completed their vast $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, less than half a day after the UK Competition Markets Authority (CMA) gave their approval to a revised package of concessions.
After two years co-piloting the biggest acquisition in video game history past an onslaught of challenges, Xbox CEO Phil Spencer now moves on to his next quest: making Microsoft's takeover of Activision Blizzard worth the hassle. Microsoft, which owns the Xbox gaming system, closed its $69 billion deal to buy game-maker Activision Blizzard on Friday after fending off global opposition from antitrust regulators and rivals.
Xbox maker Microsoft closed its $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,75,620 crore) deal for Activision Blizzard on Friday, swelling its heft in the video-gaming market with best-selling titles including Call of Duty to better compete with industry leader Sony.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is finally complete, with the $68.7 billion deal gaining approval from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). In a new email to employees, CEO Bobby Kotick has confirmed that he will stay on until the end of 2023 to help with the transition.
Microsoft has beencleared to acquire Activision Blizzard by UK regulators, removing the last hurdle standing in the way of closing the deal.
The decision in Microsoft's legal case against the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is a historic one, but for those who don't have a law degree, it can be hard to understand. The case surrounds the Microsoft Corporation's attempt to purchase the game developing and publishing powerhouse Activision Blizzard, Inc., an enormous conglomerate that counts,, and among its flagship properties. Microsoft first announced its plans to buy Activision Blizzard in January 2022, and the FTC's review began shortly thereafter. The legal battle began in earnest by June 2023, when the FTC filed its first documentation in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.
Following confirmation of Microsoft’s buyout of Activision Blizzard, controversial CEO Bobby Kotick has confirmed he will remain boss of the Call of Duty maker only until the end of 2023.
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has given players on rival consoles, most notably PS5, some reassuring words about future exclusivity, or lack thereof.
Microsoft has officially welcomed Activision Blizzard to Xbox following the Competition and Markets Authority’s approval of the acquisition in the UK. The deadline was originally for October 18th and is for $68.7 billion. With its completion, studios like Treyarch, Infinity Ward, Blizzard Entertainment, King and many more are now part of Xbox.
Following the final stamp of approval from UK regulator CMA and respecting last week's rumor, Microsoft has just announced the closure of its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, ending an odyssey that lasted nearly 21 months (639 days, to be exact).
By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. He founded WinRumors, a site dedicated to Microsoft news, before joining The Verge in 2012.