Rumor: Microsoft Expects to Close Activision Blizzard Acquisition Next Week - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 06 October 2023 / 8,343 Views
Microsoft is reportedly looking to close its Activision Blizzard acquisition next week, according to a source familiar with Microsoft's plans speaking with The Verge.
The source claims Microsoft is looking at Friday, October 13th as the closing date. However, this depends on the UK regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
The CMA had blocked the deal in April, however, Microsoft has since restructured the deal by selling the cloud gaming rights for current and new Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft. This was enough for the CMA to provisionally approve the deal last month.
The UK regulator has a deadline today on gathering opinions over whether or not it should approve Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition. A final decision from the CMA is expected next week.
The acquisition has been approved in New Zealand, Turkey, South Africa, South Korea, China, the European Union, Ukraine, Japan, Chile, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia. Microsoft also won its case against the FTC in the US, which was trying to block the deal.
The FTC is trying to appeal the outcome of its hearing with a decision expected in early December. However, this won't stop Microsoft from closing the deal.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012 and taking over the hardware estimates in 2017. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel. You can contact the author on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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I've read this article before, like 8 times. :P
The deal is expected to close on Friday the 13th? I'm not normally a superstitious person but it's clearly cursed haha
Phil has been cursing the brand for some times now
I love GP so I'm happy. The third party content is worth it even if you don't like their first party games.
One step closer to Demolition Man's all restaurants are owned by the same company and are all Taco Bell restaurant days.
lol, love the reference.
Everyone loves this retro music ad jingles. :-P
Great film! 😂
I will be happy when this is over if for no other reason than the news cycle will finally be able to move on, and hopefully Microsoft will be less cagey about openly discussing future plans, especially with regards to ABK
Curious to see what they immediately put on gamepass and what they hold back on.
what the fuck ever. Can we stop fucking hearing about it at last? Or will that need 45 news stories a week?
Phil Spencer: takes a shit.
Story 1: "RUMOR: Phil Spencer taking a shit."
Story 2: "UPDATE: Spencer to complete taking a shit, toilet paper likely to be used."
Story 3: "UPDATE: Spencer uses toilet paper after taking a shit."
Story 4: "RUMOR: Spencer to flush toilet after taking a shit."
Story 5: "RUMOUR: Spencer to acquire all toilet roll and put on gamepass day 1."
Quickest change we'll see from this deal is what Act/Blizzard games they put on game pass.
But the new games that come out under from Act/Blizzard under Xbox, will be many years later. Hell, it's going to take years for serious changes to come from how Act/Blizzard operates......Maybe CoD on a 2 year release cycle will be the first "big' change.
