According to recent reports, Microsoft is nearing the completion of its acquisition of Activision Blizzard and expects to finalize the deal by next week.
The ongoing negotiations surrounding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard have garnered significant attention. However, these negotiations are expected to conclude as early as next week, as per the latest reports. Here’s everything you need to know about this developing situation.
Microsoft Activision Blizzard Acquisition Ending
According to The Verge, Microsoft aims to wrap up its $68.7 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard by Friday, October 13, 2023. An anonymous source close to The Verge suggests that the deal may reach its conclusion shortly before the initial deadline is set to expire.
The acquisition process began when Microsoft announced its intention to buy Activision Blizzard on January 18, 2022. If the deal is finalized on October 13, 2023, the entire process would have taken 633 days, equivalent to approximately 1 year, 8 months, and 3 weeks.
Currently, Microsoft is awaiting approval from the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA had previously blocked the deal in April 2023 due to concerns surrounding cloud gaming. Although the deal’s deadline had been extended to October 18, 2023, if the CMA grants approval, the deal could be finalized as early as the upcoming Friday.
If the acquisition is successfully concluded, Microsoft will assume ownership of Activision Blizzard and all its subsidiaries, gaining exclusive rights to its popular intellectual properties such as Call of Duty and the Overwatch series. This acquisition serves as another significant move by Microsoft as it strives to compete with Sony in the gaming market. Previously, Microsoft acquired Bethesda, leading to exclusivity agreements for highly anticipated titles like Starfield and Redfall, which were met with mixed responses.
