The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority is pursuing an agreement with Microsoft regarding its planned buyout of Activision Blizzard. This landmark $69 billion deal has been one of the biggest gaming news stories of the past two years, as Microsoft aims to add major franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo to the Xbox umbrella. As Microsoft’s attempted purchase of Activision Blizzard passes through various international regulatory channels, there has been both praise and pushback regarding what the completed deal could mean for the gaming industry as a whole.
A major speedbump to the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard merger came when the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority voted to block the deal due to concerns over how it could give Microsoft a monopoly in the field of cloud-based gaming in April. This decision drew criticism from UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt a month later, and Microsoft soon moved to appeal the CMA’s ruling on five grounds of misinformation and failure to consider the company’s proposed efforts to address its concerns.
As reported by VGC, the CMA has agreed to pause its legal actions surrounding the Activision Blizzard buyout in order to reach an understanding with Microsoft. A spokesperson for the CMA addressed this decision earlier today, stating that the UK regulator is ready to consider any proposals from Microsoft that would address its cloud-gaming concerns and that all involved parties have made a joint statement to the Competition Appeal Tribunal to stay all litigation until the matter is settled.
Outside of the UK, Microsoft is closer than ever to finally securing its purchase of Activision Blizzard. Earlier today, a judge ruled in favor of Microsoft in its legal battle against the Federal Trade Commission, meaning that the deal is free to proceed in the United States barring an appeal. Microsoft has also won approval to close its deal in China and the European Union, and similar agreements have been made in other countries like Brazil, Japan, South Africa, and Ukraine.
Microsoft’s planned buyout of Activision Blizzard remains a controversial subject, with console rival Sony being one of the loudest voices against it due to concerns over how it would affect PlayStation’s access to lucrative franchises like Call of Duty. Regardless, Microsoft is continuing to clear the many legal hurdles keeping it from closing its potentially game-changing Activision Blizzard deal, and approval from the UK’s CMA might be around the corner.
Source: VGC