The CMA has provisionally approved Microsoft’s purchase of Activision-Blizzard. The United Kingdom’s antitrust body had been one of the last obstacles to overcome by the Xbox company in its acquisition of the developer.
Initially, the CMA refused the purchase because of the strategic advantage it would give Microsoft in the still booming cloud gaming market. However, Microsoft made the institution reconsider its refusal by offering to sell its cloud rights to Ubisoft. The CMA considered that this possibility changed the situation enough to reopen the case, and in a document published this morning, they state that the purchase is “provisionally” accepted.
“Although the CMA has identified limited concerns with the new offering, Microsoft has flagged remedies that the CMA has provisionally concluded should address these issues.”
“To resolve some of these concerns, Microsoft has offered solutions to ensure that the terms of the sale of Activision’s rights to Ubisoft are enforceable by the CMA. The CMA has concluded that this additional protection should resolve those concerns.”
The CMA has opened a consultation period and will make the final decision on October 6.
