In some good news for Microsoft, the UK Competition and Markets Authority has approved the controversial $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
It’s been almost two years of struggling for Microsoft to get the Activision Blizzard acquisition approved. When it was initially announced, competitors and gamers alike felt it might create a monopoly within the gaming industry, giving Microsoft the ability to release Blizzard games like Overwatch and Call of Duty on Xbox and PC only, leaving out PlayStation.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority initially agreed with this viewpoint on the acquisition but has since come around. Is Microsoft finally going to buy Activision Blizzard? Here’s what we know about the deal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWwr81cWxeQ
Microsoft Blizzard acquisition sees changes
In order to get the acquisition approved in the UK, Microsoft made some changes to its proposal. This included siphoning off the cloud gaming rights outside the UK to a competitor, stopping Microsoft from completely locking up cloud gaming as the market grows.
This was seen as a lot more fair for competitors and would ensure that there were no hiked up prices down the line.
It’s unclear what exactly will happen next. But if the acquisition does go through, you can definitely expect Microsoft to make some popular games exclusive to the Xbox and PC, including Call of Duty, Halo, Forza, and many more.
Many are also predicting that Microsoft would add a lot of employees, possibly by tens of thousands. But, it hasn’t been confirmed by the company itself.
In response, the gaming community is still feeling a bit concerned with the acquisition. Some have accused Microsoft of possibly causing incoming layoffs at Sony and other competitors. Others are predicting that Sony will attempt to acquire some publishers of their own.
More about the acquisition will be revealed soon.
Olivia Richman
About Olivia Richman
Olivia has worked in media ever since graduating from college, with her coverage ranging from traditional newspaper reporting to digital coverage of all things gaming, online betting, and nerd culture. She has traveled around the world pursuing that coverage, from the far coasts of the United States to the busy downtown core of Tokyo, Japan. Olivia’s favorite games include Overwatch and Super Smash Smash Bros, and she has been published at Esports Illustrated, Inven Global, EsportsInsider, Upcomer, and elsewhere.
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