Why can't Microsoft just buy Activision?

The reason the purchase was bogged down by legal action is competition. By acquiring Activision Blizzard, critics argued, Microsoft's gaming division would simply own too much of the industry, unfairly limiting its competitors and ultimately harming consumers.
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Why can't Microsoft buy Activision?

However, in April 2023, the government body prevented the proposed purchase over concerns about the “future of the cloud gaming market”. Microsoft did present a solution to the CMA, which was deemed not adequate and thus rejected. As a result, both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard appealed the decision.
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Can Microsoft buy Activision without CMA approval?

The CMA granted Microsoft a preliminary approval last month and now, a few weeks later, the U.K. regulatory agency has finally given Microsoft the full approval it needs. With the CMA's approval, Microsoft now has everything it needs to close the deal and make Activision Blizzard a part of Xbox's first-party umbrella.
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What will happen if Microsoft buys Activision?

Following this acquisition, Microsoft will own more gaming studios, the availability of Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard franchises will shift, and unionization efforts within Activision Blizzard could gain a bit more ground.
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Who blocked Microsoft from buying Activision?

The UK — which blocked the Microsoft-Activison deal — is ready to negotiate. Here's what happens next. Britain's competition regulator, the staunchest opponent of Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, flat out blocked the deal in April.
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What Will Microsoft Do If It Can't Buy Activision?

Can Microsoft close the Activision deal now?

The acquisition required 20 months of battles with regulators in the UK and US, but Microsoft has closed its Activision Blizzard deal after defeating the Federal Trade Commission in a US federal court and restructuring the deal to appease the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK. “We love gaming.
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Can Microsoft close Activision deal?

Microsoft Closes $69 Billion Activision Deal, Overcoming Regulators' Objections. The megadeal could strengthen Microsoft's standing in the video game industry, after a year and a half of negotiations with regulators around the world. Kellen Browning reported from San Francisco, and David McCabe from Washington.
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Can the CMA block Activision merger?

In its final decision of 26 April, the CMA finally opted to block the deal on the basis of those concerns in the nascent market for cloud gaming. Microsoft tried to address the CMA's concerns by offering a commitment to license Activision games for certain competing cloud gaming platforms for ten years.
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Is Microsoft buying Activision a good thing?

What Microsoft Gains With Activision. As Singh put it, in one shot, the Activision purchase enables Microsoft to shorten time-to-market with new gaming products, expand its reach, and deepen its penetration in those markets.
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Why does Microsoft want Activision?

Why does Microsoft want to do this deal? Buying Activision will give Microsoft ownership of many of the world's biggest games: not just Call of Duty, but others, including mobile behemoths like Candy Crush. All of those will be part of Microsoft and can be used to boost the offering of the Xbox.
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Can Microsoft still buy Activision without U.K. approval?

Microsoft's giant Activision Blizzard acquisition is now clear to close after a UK regulator has given it a final stamp of approval. By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech.
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Is Microsoft paying cash for Activision?

Microsoft valued the Activision deal at $68.7 billion when it announced the acquisition in early 2022, “inclusive of Activision Blizzard's net cash,” though Microsoft agreed to pay $95 in cash for each share of the game-maker, closer to $75 billion. Started in 1979 by former Atari Inc.
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Did the FTC approve the Activision deal?

Microsoft closes $69 billion Activision-Blizzard deal, defeats antitrust watchdog FTC | Fortune.
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What happens if Microsoft is blocked from buying Activision Blizzard?

A Huge Payout If The Deal Falls Through

According to the official terms of the deal, Microsoft will be required to pay Activision Blizzard what is called a "reverse termination" fee of $3 billion if the deal doesn't get done.
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Can CMA block Microsoft?

The new deal

Earlier this year, the CMA blocked Microsoft from acquiring the whole of Activision due to concerns that the deal would harm competition in cloud gaming in the UK.
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Is Xbox becoming a monopoly?

Xbox is a family. The dozens of developers and publishers it has bought using an unending pile of Microsoft money hasn't been used to form a dangerous monopoly, but a loving unit of studios, intellectual properties, and technology that just want to get together and hug it out.
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Why is Microsoft buying Call of Duty?

Spencer has touted the purchase as a way for Microsoft to break into the more than $90bn market for mobile games. Activision makes popular mobile titles including Candy Crush Saga and Call of Duty: Mobile – games that were excluded from the cloud streaming Ubisoft deal.
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Can the CMA be overturned?

Can it reverse the CMA's decision? And, crucially, will it be worth the time and legal fees? When appealing the CMA's substantive decision in a merger case, a judicial review standard applies, meaning the applicant must show that the CMA acted irrationally, illegally or with procedural impropriety.
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Can the EU block the Microsoft Activision deal?

Microsoft's $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard has been approved by EU regulators just weeks after UK regulators blocked the acquisition. The European Commission has concluded that the deal can pass thanks to commitments from Microsoft related to cloud gaming.
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Why does Sony want to block Microsoft Activision deal?

The Tokyo-based PlayStation maker has been the most vocal opponent of the deal, arguing that it would give Microsoft excessive market power by letting it control the lucrative Call of Duty franchise.
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What was Microsoft's biggest purchase?

Microsoft is finally closing its $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard, 633 days after announcing its bid. Why it matters: The deal is the biggest acquisition in Microsoft's history, and the biggest ever in the games industry.
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Who needs to approve the Microsoft Activision deal?

Microsoft's $69 billion Activision Blizzard takeover approved by UK, clearing way for deal to close. The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority gave the green light to Microsoft's proposed $69 billion takeover of gaming firm Activision Blizzard, removing the last major hurdle for the deal to close.
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Will Call of Duty be Xbox exclusive?

Microsoft hearing, revealing that he wasn't actually worried about Call of Duty exclusivity and was “pretty sure we will continue to see Call of Duty on PlayStation for many years to come.” Microsoft's lawyers argued Ryan didn't initially have concerns about the deal and had spoken to Xbox chief Phil Spencer to seek ...
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Who owns Activision now?

Microsoft Now Owns Activision Blizzard: What It Means for Your Favorite Games. Overwatch, Call of Duty and World of Warcraft are now all owned by Microsoft.
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How will Microsoft pay for Activision?

Microsoft will acquire Activision Blizzard for $95.00 per share, in an all-cash transaction valued at $68.7 billion, inclusive of Activision Blizzard's net cash. When the transaction closes, Microsoft will become the world's third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.
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