EU reportedly set to approve Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard takeover next week
After the UK’s watchdog blocked Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard in April 2023, the European Union’s regulatory commission is seemingly set on approving the deal. This is reported by Reuters citing sources familiar with the matter. Next Monday, May 15, 2023, seems to be the likeliest date for the announcement.
It’s been previously reported that the EU seemed to be satisfied with measures already taken by Microsoft, such as the company’s deals with Nintendo, Nvidia, Boosteroid, and other providers of cloud gaming services to make its own and Activision Blizzard’s library of video games available on their platforms for at least ten years.
The UK’s Competition and Market Authority (CMA) mainly took issue with the cloud gaming aspect of the acquisition, saying the move would hamper competition in this area, which for many gamers is the least concern at the moment.
Martin Coleman, who chaired the independent panel of experts conducting the investigation, said: “Cloud gaming needs a free, competitive market to drive innovation and choice. That is best achieved by allowing the current competitive dynamics in cloud gaming to continue to do their job.”
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the United States is the other big regulator intent on halting the deal, while the EU would follow Japan and many other countries in allowing the acquisition.
Activision Blizzard not only makes and publishes popular games like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, but also includes mobile game developer King and its money-printing machine Candy Crush.
