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- Now, the CMA has cleared the tweaked $69 billion deal — the largest in video game history — and paved the way for Microsoft to buy Activision. The CMA framed its decision as a victory for the preservation of competitive prices and better services in cloud gaming.
www.ign.com/articles/microsofts-69-billion-activision-blizzard-buyout-imminent-after-stock-halted-and-uk-clears-dealIt's Official: Microsoft Has Bought Activision Blizzard for ...
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Oct 13, 2023 · Microsoft has completed its $69bn (£56bn) takeover of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard in the gaming industry's biggest ever deal. It comes as Microsoft, which owns the Xbox gaming...
- Call of Duty joins the home of Halo.
- The 13 Biggest Franchises Microsoft Will Own After the Xbox and Activision Deal
- Microsoft Acquires Activision Blizzard: The Story So Far
By Wesley Yin-Poole
Updated: Oct 13, 2023 8:45 pm
Posted: Oct 13, 2023 6:26 am
UPDATE: Microsoft has announced its $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, bringing Call of Duty and more into the Xbox fold.
In a post on Xbox Wire, Xbox boss Phil Spencer said work has now begun bringing Activision Blizzard games to Game Pass, although he stopped short of namechecking any titles. "Today we start the work to bring beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms. We’ll share more about when you can expect to play in the coming months. We know you’re excited – and we are too."
Spencer also delivered a message to existing players of Activision Blizzard games, suggesting multiplatform support will continue. "For the millions of fans who love Activision, Blizzard, and King games, we want you to know that today is a good day to play," he said. "You are the heart and soul of these franchises, and we are honored to have you as part of our community. Whether you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile, you are welcome here – and will remain welcome, even if Xbox isn’t where you play your favorite franchise. Because when everyone plays, we all win. We believe our news today will unlock a world of possibilities for more ways to play. Thank you for the ongoing support. We have so much more to come in the months ahead – I’m excited for the future and cannot wait to share it with you."
“The new deal will stop Microsoft from locking up competition in cloud gaming as this market takes off, preserving competitive prices and services for UK cloud gaming customers. It will allow Ubisoft to offer Activision’s content under any business model, including through multigame subscription services. It will also help to ensure that cloud gaming providers will be able to use non-Windows operating systems for Activision content, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.”
Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President, Microsoft, said: “We’re grateful for the CMA’s thorough review and decision today. We have now crossed the final regulatory hurdle to close this acquisition, which we believe will benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide.
Meanwhile, trading in shares in Activision Blizzard were halted alongside the alert “news pending”, suggesting the deal is set to close imminently.
Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick emailed staff to hail the news. "We now have all regulatory approvals necessary to close and we look forward to bringing joy and connection to even more players around the world," Kotick said.
When the deal closes, Microsoft will own the likes of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush. Xbox is expected to add many of Activision Blizzard’s games into its subscription service, Game Pass, although Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo 4 will be held back until next year.
However, the FTC is soldiering on with its attempt to unravel the deal, despite losing its high-profile court case in the summer. The FTC is waiting for a decision on its trial verdict appeal before moving forward with its own in-house trial, although both will come after Microsoft seals the deal.
And in a new development, the FTC filed a submission to re-open discovery in order to gain more information on Microsoft’s cloud gaming divestiture deal with Ubisoft, and its deal with Sony to ensure Call of Duty remains on PlayStation consoles.
"We remain focused on the federal appeal process despite Microsoft and Activision closing their deal in advance of a scheduled December appeals court hearing," an FTC spokesperson told IGN in an email. "Microsoft and Activision's new agreement with Ubisoft presents a whole new facet to the merger that will affect American consumers, which the FTC will assess as part of its ongoing administrative proceeding. The FTC continues to believe this deal is a threat to competition."
- Wesley Yin-Poole
Oct 13, 2023 · Microsoft has finalized its $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, the publisher of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The Verge exclusively reported last week that...
Oct 13, 2023 · Microsoft (MSFT) on Friday finalized its $69 billion purchase of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard (ATVI), according to a regulatory filing from the company Friday, in what is the...
- 3 min
- Alexis Keenan
Oct 13, 2023 · The $69-billion purchase of Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard makes Microsoft the third-largest gaming company in the world by revenue, behind China’s Tencent and Sony in Japan.
- sarah.parvini@latimes.com
- Staff Writer
Oct 13, 2023 · The $69-billion purchase of Santa Monica-based Activision Blizzard makes Microsoft the third-largest gaming company in the world by revenue, behind China's Tencent and Sony in Japan.
Oct 13, 2023 · Microsoft said on Friday that it had closed its $69 billion purchase of the video game giant Activision Blizzard, overcoming significant regulatory hurdles in Britain and the United...
