UK regulator provisionally approves Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard

After revising the deal to provide Ubisoft cloud streaming rights for its titles, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has officially agreed to allow Microsoft to acquire publisher Activision Blizzard.

The details:

• The CMA announced its provisional decision, confirming that Microsoft has addressed the regulator's concerns about its control of the cloud gaming market, allowing the company to complete its acquisition of Activision. Microsoft's revised acquisition terms were revealed in August, with the company stating that it would transfer the cloud streaming rights to rival publisher Ubisoft.
• It's important to note that, while unlikely, the CMA's decision is only a provisional approval, which means it could change completely during its consultation, which concludes on October 6. The CMA will then make a final decision, determining whether the acquisition is allowed to continue in the UK.
• After Microsoft won its legal battle against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which sought to prevent the $69 billion deal from being completed in the US, the UK has remained the final obstacle to the acquisition. The CMA blocked the initial acquisition attempt in April, claiming that Microsoft acquiring the rights to Activision's properties would give it complete control of the cloud gaming market.

More gaming news:

• Mortal Kombat 1 director Ed Boon has stated that the game's disappointing Switch port will be updated to address many of its flaws. Following the release of the game, fans took to social media to share screenshots of the port's low-quality visuals and numerous bugs, labeling it a "robbery" with its $70 price tag.
• Documents detailing Bethesda's release plans through the fiscal year 2024 have been leaked online. The files, dated July 2024, show that the company intended to release remasters of Fallout 3 and Oblivion, as well as a new Dishonored.