UK Praises Microsoft's Game-Changing Concessions And Greenlights $69B Activision Deal

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had been the last hurdle that Microsoft needed to clear before closing the mega $68.7 billion dollar buyout of Activision-Blizzard. However, in August, Microsoft agreed to remove itself from obtaining the cloud rights to Activision-Blizzard and appease the CMA's worries over the tech company seizing too much control in the market. With that concession, the CMA has now agreed to clear the transaction.

Cardell went on to say that the CMA had delivered a clear message to Microsoft that the deal would be blocked unless it agreed to address its concerns. Once Microsoft agreed to sell cloud rights to Ubisoft, the CMA felt it had kept Microsoft from having a "stranglehold over this important and rapidly developing market."
Chair of the Independent Panel, Martin Coleman, who reviewed the original Microsoft deal remarked, "We now have a transaction in which the cloud distribution of Activision games, old and new, is taken away from Microsoft and put into the hands of Ubisoft, an independent party who is committed to widening access to the games. That's better for competition, better for consumers and better for economic growth."
With the CMA giving its blessing, Microsoft is free to close the deal, with many believing it will happen before October 18, 2023. Now we will all wait and see if Microsoft makes an attempt in the future to buy Ubisoft.