microsoft activision blizzard

How the Microsoft-Activision Deal Came Back From the Dead

23Aug

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Technology

How the Microsoft-Activision Deal Came Back From the Dead

[ad_1] If Microsoft Corp. completes its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in the coming months, the $69 billion deal will go down as one of the biggest comeback stories in the history of mergers.By this past April, the gaming industry's biggest acquisition ever appeared doomed. US regulators had filed a challenge to the takeover and their counterparts in the UK had blocked it outright. But Microsoft resurrected the purchase earlier this summer, deploying what amounted to a bluff that pitted US and UK regulators against each another. And on Tuesday the UK agreed to open a fresh probe of the transaction, following an offer from Microsoft to sell the cloud rights of current and future Activision games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft Entertainment SA. If the transaction clears t...

Microsoft’s Potential Acquisition of Activision Blizzard: What This Means for Gamers

19Jul

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Technology

Microsoft’s Potential Acquisition of Activision Blizzard: What This Means for Gamers

[ad_1] The sun finally came out for Microsoft. On 11 July, Judge Jacqueline Corley ruled in favor of the Redmond, Washington-based company in its dispute against the United States Federal Trade Commission (FTC) over the purchase of Activision Blizzard, one of the world's largest video game developers. An appeal by the FTC to temporarily halt the deal was denied by an appellate court late last week.With these decisions, the tech giant is now one step closer to closing the $69 billion acquisition deal, which was first announced back in January 2022. The court's decision removes the hurdle of the FTC, however, across the pond, Microsoft still faces pushback from regulators in the United Kingdom who argue that the deal could stifle competition in the cloud gaming market. And Microsoft is re...

Activision’s CEO Calls UK Decision to Block $69 Billion Microsoft Deal ‘Irrational’

28Apr

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Technology

Activision’s CEO Calls UK Decision to Block $69 Billion Microsoft Deal ‘Irrational’

[ad_1] Activision Blizzard Inc. Chief Executive Officer Bobby Kotick called UK regulators' decision to block Microsoft Corp.'s $69 billion acquisition of his company “irrational” and predicted the deal will ultimately win approval.In a Bloomberg Television interview, Kotick didn't say whether the companies would extend their purchase agreement beyond a July deadline. The pair are preparing their response to the UK decision, he said, adding, “I think the appeals process will work in our favor.” On Wednesday, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority decided the deal would give Microsoft an unfair leg up in cloud gaming, which involves streaming video games from data centers to a broad range of devices. Microsoft wouldn't have enough incentive to put Activision games like Call of Duty, O...

Microsoft-Activision deal: Key things to know

27Apr

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Technology

Microsoft-Activision deal: Key things to know

[ad_1] Microsoft on Wednesday faced its biggest challenge yet in its effort to buy US video game powerhouse Activision Blizzard, with the decision by the UK to block the deal.The transaction, which was expected to be finalized this year, would beef up Microsoft's muscle in the booming gaming market while playing to its strengths in software and cloud computing. Here are key things to know about the blockbuster transaction: - Video game titans -Buying Activision, the maker of "Call of Duty" and "Candy Crush", would make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.China-based Tencent is the biggest player in terms of revenue, dominating the Asian market and investing in game studios across the world.The firm owns Riot Games, maker of battle royale hit "L...

Microsoft’s bid to buy games giant faces triple anti-trust threat

17Apr

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Technology

Microsoft’s bid to buy games giant faces triple anti-trust threat

[ad_1] Depending on which side you're on, tech giant Microsoft is either the hero fighting to bring some of the most popular video games to more people, or the villain on the brink of killing competition in the sector.The Xbox-owner has embarked on a campaign to convince all three EU, UK and US regulators to back its $69 billion bid to take over Activision Blizzard, owner of hit games "Candy Crush" and "Call Of Duty". The effort to create the world's third largest gaming company by revenue was launched last year but the company must now address concerns from all three regulators that if it takes control of such market-leading games it could stifle competition. Sony, which produces the bestselling PlayStation console, says the deal will give Microsoft the power to limit rivals' access to...

Microsoft Wins Nvidia Support for Embattled Activision Deal

22Feb

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Technology

Microsoft Wins Nvidia Support for Embattled Activision Deal

[ad_1] Microsoft Corp. announced an agreement to bring its games to Nvidia Corp.'s GeForce Now service, part of efforts to show that the industry will remain competitive if it's allowed to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. in a $69 billion deal. Microsoft President Brad Smith disclosed the Nvidia accord after meeting with European Union officials in Brussels on Tuesday. The partnership “resolves Nvidia's concerns” about the merger, the companies said in a joint statement. “Nvidia therefore is offering its full support for regulatory approval of the acquisition,” they said. The software giant is fighting to save the embattled deal, which faces regulatory hurdles at home and abroad. While Europe reviews the transaction, the US Federal Trade Commission has already sued to block it. ...

Why Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal Hinges on London Not Washington

8Feb

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Technology

Why Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal Hinges on London Not Washington

[ad_1] Microsoft Corp.'s $69 billion Activision Blizzard Inc. takeover faces a key decision in Britain as the nation's merger watchdog marks its arrival as a global regulator with findings that could set the trajectory to the mega deal finalizing — or falling apart. The Competition and Markets Authority is expected in the coming days to issue its provisional findings, signaling whether it aims to block the deal or clear it with specific remedies such as selloffs. The regulator already flagged concerns that the deal could cause competition issues in the consoles and subscriptions market, as well as the more nascent cloud gaming sector. Microsoft first announced the transaction last year, looking to add blockbuster games like Call of Duty to a business that already includes the Xbox...