04:51:51 pm 10/18/2023
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Microsoft Completes $69 Billion Acquisition of Activision Blizzard
Posted on October 18, 2023 by Mitch Stein
In a historic move that has shaken the gaming industry, Microsoft has officially closed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This acquisition, announced back in January 2022, marks not only the largest in Microsoft's history but also the biggest ever in the gaming world.
The road to this acquisition was not without its hurdles. Regulatory scrutiny from the U.S., U.K., and E.U. raised concerns about competition in the cloud gaming market. To address these concerns, Microsoft made several concessions. One significant step was providing free licenses to stream Activision Blizzard games to consumers and cloud gaming providers in Europe. Additionally, agreements were inked with console rivals Nintendo and Sony to ensure access to Call of Duty games for the next decade.
On Friday, October 13, 2023, the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority finally gave the green light to the deal after Microsoft made a key commitment. This commitment involved selling the cloud gaming rights to Activision Blizzard's games to Ubisoft, a prominent French game publisher.
However, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is still challenging the deal in court, although it lacks the power to block its closure. Despite this ongoing challenge, Microsoft moves forward with its ambitious plans for the future.
With the completion of this acquisition, Microsoft gains control of some of the most beloved gaming franchises in the world, including Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, and Candy Crush Saga. These iconic titles join Microsoft's gaming division, which already includes Xbox, Minecraft, and Halo.
Microsoft's intentions are clear. They plan to integrate Activision Blizzard's games into their Xbox Game Pass subscription service. This service offers gamers unlimited access to hundreds of titles for a monthly fee, making it an enticing proposition for gaming enthusiasts.
As part of this monumental deal, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will remain in his position until the end of 2023, reporting directly to Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone in the gaming industry, with Microsoft poised to reshape the landscape of gaming and cloud streaming. Gamers around the world eagerly await the next chapter in this ever-evolving saga.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to unfold.
Posted on October 18, 2023 by Mitch Stein
In a historic move that has shaken the gaming industry, Microsoft has officially closed its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This acquisition, announced back in January 2022, marks not only the largest in Microsoft's history but also the biggest ever in the gaming world.
The road to this acquisition was not without its hurdles. Regulatory scrutiny from the U.S., U.K., and E.U. raised concerns about competition in the cloud gaming market. To address these concerns, Microsoft made several concessions. One significant step was providing free licenses to stream Activision Blizzard games to consumers and cloud gaming providers in Europe. Additionally, agreements were inked with console rivals Nintendo and Sony to ensure access to Call of Duty games for the next decade.
On Friday, October 13, 2023, the U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority finally gave the green light to the deal after Microsoft made a key commitment. This commitment involved selling the cloud gaming rights to Activision Blizzard's games to Ubisoft, a prominent French game publisher.
However, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission is still challenging the deal in court, although it lacks the power to block its closure. Despite this ongoing challenge, Microsoft moves forward with its ambitious plans for the future.
With the completion of this acquisition, Microsoft gains control of some of the most beloved gaming franchises in the world, including Call of Duty, Diablo, Overwatch, and Candy Crush Saga. These iconic titles join Microsoft's gaming division, which already includes Xbox, Minecraft, and Halo.
Microsoft's intentions are clear. They plan to integrate Activision Blizzard's games into their Xbox Game Pass subscription service. This service offers gamers unlimited access to hundreds of titles for a monthly fee, making it an enticing proposition for gaming enthusiasts.
As part of this monumental deal, Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick will remain in his position until the end of 2023, reporting directly to Microsoft gaming chief Phil Spencer.
The acquisition marks a significant milestone in the gaming industry, with Microsoft poised to reshape the landscape of gaming and cloud streaming. Gamers around the world eagerly await the next chapter in this ever-evolving saga.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story continues to unfold.
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