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Microsoft-Activision: UK looks poised to clear restructured deal
Sep 25, 2023
UK competition watchdog likely to approve Microsoft's restructured deal to acquire Activision, including the sale of cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft. Consultation opened on Microsoft's proposed remedies, with Ubisoft becoming the independent supplier for cloud distribution of games.
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Quick takeaways
- The UK's competition watchdog is preparing to approve Microsoft's restructured proposal to acquire Activision, following the sale of Activision's cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft.
- Sara Cardell, CEO of the CMA, defended the CMA's decision to block and restructure the merger, emphasizing the importance of preserving competition, innovation, and choice in cloud gaming.
Deep dives
Microsoft's acquisition of Activision set to be cleared by UK competition watchdog
The UK's competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), is preparing to give the green light to Microsoft's restructured proposal to acquire Activision. The CMA previously blocked the merger on the grounds that it would weaken competition in the cloud gaming market. However, the sale of Activision's cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft, as proposed in the restructured deal, has addressed the CMA's concerns and is likely to lead to the deal being approved. The CMA still has some residual concerns, but Microsoft has offered remedies to address them.
