LONDON—British competition regulators opened a new investigation on Tuesday into Microsoft’s revamped bid to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, representing the last major hurdle to closing one of the biggest deals in tech history. The Competition and Markets Authority said it has until October 18 to decide whether to…
A sign outside the Activision building in Santa Monica, California, on June 21, 2023. Microsoft revamped its bid to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard on August 22, 2023, to appease British competition regulators, who are the last major hurdle to closing one of the biggest deals in tech history.
Xbox maker Microsoft has been on a quest to acquire Activision, maker of the popular “Call of Duty” game franchise since announcing the $69 billion deal in January 2022. The companies have secured approvals from antitrust authorities covering 40 countries, including the European Union. The blockbuster deal faced pushback in the United States, but the Federal Trade Commission lost a court fight to stop it, effectively clearing the way for it to proceed.
Under the restructured deal, Microsoft will sell cloud streaming rights outside of the European Economic Area for all current and new Activision games released over the next 15 years to French game studio Ubisoft Entertainment, Microsoft president Brad Smith said in a blog post. The European Economic Area includes the EU’s 27 nations, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
The CMA said on Tuesday that it found those developments wouldn’t have changed its original decision and imposed an order to block the deal. At the same time, it’s considering the new Microsoft proposal, which “is substantially different from what was put on the table previously,” said Sarah Cardell, CEO of the UK watchdog.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Gabon coup leaders make general transitional presidentPRESIDENT ARRESTED. This video grab from a video obtained by AFPTV from Gabon 24 on August 30, 2023 shows Colonel
Read more »
SC reveals man in viral road rage video an employeeTHE Supreme Court said that Wilfredo Gonzales, a dismissed policeman who was seen toting a gun at a cyclist in Quezon City on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, was one of its employees.
Read more »
Pasay police chief commends enforcer for tackling rider in latest viral videoANOTHER policeman was caught on video by a motorist, this time, wrestling a motorcycle rider in Makati with two guns in his hand.
Read more »
Late Russian mercenary Prigozhin spoke about his security in newly surfaced videoPrigozhin's camouflage clothing and hat, as well as the watch on his right hand, matched his appearance in a video released on August 21, which he also claimed was filmed in Africa
Read more »
Join Manila Bulletin's Pamana: Special Recipes of Lolo & Lola Video Contest for 'Grandparents Day'undefined
Read more »
Musk: X to offer video, audio callsWASHINGTON—The social media platform X will begin offering video and audio calling, owner Elon Musk announced on Thursday, a step
Read more »