Tag: microsoft activision blizzard deal

Good news for Call of Duty players on PlayStation
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Good news for Call of Duty players on PlayStation

[ad_1] Microsoft and Sony have inked an agreement to keep the popular game franchise, Call of Duty, on the PlayStation platform. This announcement comes after Microsoft's planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard.The gaming chief of Microsoft, Phil Spencer, tweeted yesterday, "We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. " Addressing concerns and ensuring consumer accessThe goal of this announcement by the software giant is to address concerns from regulators. They were worried that the merger would make games from Activision, including the widely-loved Call of Duty shooting game franchise, exclusive only to Xbox. Microsoft's President, Brad Smith, said, "...
Explainer-What next for Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision deal after UK ban?
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Explainer-What next for Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision deal after UK ban?

[ad_1] Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Wednesday blocked Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of 'Call of Duty' maker Activision Blizzard over concerns it would hinder cloud gaming.The ruling was a shock after the regulator had already resolved its concerns about the consoles market, a sector dominated by Sony's PlayStation and Microsoft's Xbox, which dwarfs cloud gaming. IS THE DEAL DEAD? Not necessarily. Microsoft said it remained fully committed and would appeal.The regulator's decision reflected a flawed understanding of the market, it said.HOW DOES THE APPEAL PROCESS WORK?Microsoft can appeal to Britain's Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), an independent judicial body, which will only examine the CMA's decision-making process, not the merits of the merger.Micros...
Activision’s CEO Calls UK Decision to Block $69 Billion Microsoft Deal ‘Irrational’
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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...
US Filed Microsoft-Activision Suit to Head Off EU Settlement
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US Filed Microsoft-Activision Suit to Head Off EU Settlement

[ad_1] The US Federal Trade Commission filed its lawsuit to block Microsoft Corp.’s $69 billion takeover of gaming company Activision Blizzard Inc. in December. The US Federal Trade Commission filed its lawsuit to block Microsoft Corp.'s $69 billion takeover of gaming company Activision Blizzard Inc. in December partly to get ahead of its European counterparts and dissuade them from accepting a settlement allowing the deal, according to people familiar with the investigations. The FTC filed a complaint challenging the merger on Dec. 8, hours after a call between US and European Union officials about their respective probes, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the discussions were confidential. The EU officials indicated on the call they intended to begin ...
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Is Confident About Activision Deal
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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Is Confident About Activision Deal

[ad_1] Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says the company will be more ‘deliberate’ in hiring as it weathers downturn. Microsoft Corp. Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said he's confident the company can gain regulatory approval for its $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard Inc. even in the face of an in-depth regulatory probe in the UK. “Of course, any acquisition of this size will go through scrutiny, but we feel very, very confident that we'll come out,” he said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Nadella's prediction puts him at odds with investors' skepticism about the deal. While Activision rose Thursday, outperforming a slump in tech stocks, Wednesday's close of $75.32 still left the company more than ...