Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard

[Infinitron]

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/6/...ivision-blizzard-deal-finalization-timing-cma

Microsoft eyes closing its giant Activision Blizzard deal next week​

Microsoft is getting ready to close its Activision Blizzard deal, with a decision from a UK regulator expected imminently.​

Microsoft is planning to finalize its $68.7 billion proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard next week. A source familiar with Microsoft’s plans tells The Verge that the company is eyeing up Friday October 13th as the closing date where it announces to the world that the 20-month process to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard is over.

That date will still depend on the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority though, a regulator that blocked Microsoft’s deal earlier this year. Microsoft recently restructured the deal to transfer cloud gaming rights for current and new Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft, and the Xbox maker secured preliminary approval from the CMA late last month as a result.

The CMA has a deadline that expires today on gathering opinions over whether it should grant consent to Microsoft to proceed with the merger. A final decision from the CMA is expected next week, and barring any surprise last-minute changes should allow Microsoft to close its deal.

Microsoft and Activision extended their deal deadline to October 18th recently, but if Microsoft is able to close its deal next week then it will bring to a close a 20-month process of regulatory approvals and battles across Europe and the US a little earlier than expected.

Earlier this year, the CMA blocked the deal in the UK over cloud concerns, just weeks before the EU approved the deal with important cloud concessions from Microsoft. The regulatory battles in Europe came months after the FTC initially sued to block the Activision Blizzard acquisition in the US last year. The FTC then failed to secure a preliminary injunction to block Microsoft from finalizing its Activision Blizzard acquisition, part of a grueling five days of evidence and testimony in July during FTC v. Microsoft.

The FTC is still appealing the outcome of that hearing with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and a decision is due in early December. The FTC is also planning to resume its own administrative case against Microsoft’s proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition. The administrative case will commence 21 days after the Ninth Circuit rules on the FTC’s appeal, with the hearing held virtually. The FTC could attempt to undo Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal, assuming it closes on time, but it would face an unprecedented uphill battle.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Wouldn't pay a penny for Call of Dooty and Blizzard.

 

[Infinitron]

 

[Atlantico]

I expect all of the older Blizzard games to be on Game-pass. It only makes sense.

 

[Infinitron]

https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/microso...lion-activision-deal-avoid-eu-probe-1.1983244

Microsoft’s Tweaks to $69 Billion Activision Deal Avoid EU Probe​

(Bloomberg) -- Microsoft Corp.’s rehashed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. is set to avoid another European Union probe, paving the way for closing of the gaming industry’s biggest ever deal as soon as Britain’s antitrust regulator gives its expected approval in the coming days.

The European Commission has concluded that changes aimed at winning over the UK Competition and Markets Authority don’t need to go through yet another approvals process in Brussels, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Such a step would have added even more delays to an on-off acquisition that once looked doomed to fail amid opposition from UK and US watchdogs.

After the CMA blocked the deal in April, Microsoft was given an unprecedented second chance to allay the agency’s concerns. The company offered to allow Ubisoft Entertainment SA rights to distribute Activision games in the cloud gaming market. While the remedy would apply everywhere except the European Economic Area, the commission, which approved the deal in May, doesn’t see any new competition concerns, according to the people.

Microsoft Bluffed to Stage One of the Biggest M&A Comebacks Ever

In blocking the deal earlier this year, the CMA had previously cited concerns with fair competition in the cloud gaming market, saying that the transaction could result in higher prices, fewer choices and less innovation for UK gamers.

The revised proposal, which CMA Chief Executive Officer Sarah Cardell called “structurally different” to Microsoft’s original pitch, was given a positive response by the agency. The CMA has sought feedback from the industry on the changes and, barring last-minute glitches, is expected to formally wave the deal through as soon as next week.

A spokesperson for the commission on Wednesday declined to comment beyond repeating an earlier statement that it’s “closely following the developments in the UK and assessing their potential impact” in the EU case. Microsoft declined to comment on the latest regulatory moves.

With hurdles in Europe set to be overcome, Microsoft still faces legal issues in the US. The Federal Trade Commission will move forward with its in-house trial against the acquisition after pausing that process over the summer, according to an order the agency issued in September.

The move means the FTC can technically continue to challenge the deal even after it closes but won’t likely derail it from going through by Oct. 18 — Microsoft’s current deadline.

 

[lycanwarrior]

 

[Ismaul]

Must be really exciting to buy declining WoW and universally panned Diablo 4.

 

[Great Deceiver]

I think M$'s more interested in Cawadooty and Destiny. How the mighty have fallen.

 

[Atlantico]

I think M$'s more interested in Cawadooty and Destiny. How the mighty have fallen.

Not even a little bit. If they can spin off Activision and Blizzard, they will. Microsoft is buying ATV because of King and nothing else.

 

[conan_edw]

So we can officially get an Arcanum revival now?

 

[Infinitron]

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/10/13/xbox-activision-blizzard/

Welcoming the Legendary Teams at Activision Blizzard King to Team Xbox​

• Phil Spencer, CEO, Microsoft Gaming

We love gaming. We play games, create games, and know first-hand how much gaming means to all of us as individuals and collectively, as a community. And today, we officially welcome Activision Blizzard and their teams to Xbox. They are the publishers of some of the most played and most beloved franchises in gaming history across console, PC and mobile. From Pitfall to Call of Duty, World of Warcraft to Overwatch, Candy Crush Saga to Farm Heroes Super Saga, their studios have pushed the boundaries of gaming for players around the world.

I’ve long admired the work of Activision, Blizzard, and King, and the impact they’ve had on gaming, entertainment, and pop culture. Whether it was late nights spent playing the Diablo IV campaign with friends from start to finish, gathering the entire family in the rec room for our weekly Guitar Hero night, or going on an epic streak in Candy Crush, some of my most memorable gaming moments came from experiences their studios have created. It is incredible to welcome such legendary teams to Xbox.

As one team, we’ll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to bring the joy and community of gaming to more people. We’ll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing commitment of Gaming for Everyone. We are intentional about inclusion in everything we do at Xbox – from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a wider gaming community.

Together, we’ll create new worlds and stories, bring your favorite games to more places so more players can join in, and we’ll engage with and delight players in new, innovative ways in the places they love to play including mobile, cloud streaming and more.

Players have always been at the center of everything we do. And as we grow, we’ll continue to keep players at the heart of it all. We’ll continue to listen to your feedback, build a community where you can be yourself, where developers can do their best work, and continue to make really fun games. As promised, we will also continue to make more games available in more places – and that begins now by enabling cloud streaming providers and players to stream Activision Blizzard games in the European Economic Area, a commitment made to the European Commission. Today we start the work to bring beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms. We’ll share more about when you can expect to play in the coming months. We know you’re excited – and we are too.

For the millions of fans who love Activision, Blizzard, and King games, we want you to know that today is a good day to play. You are the heart and soul of these franchises, and we are honored to have you as part of our community. Whether you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile, you are welcome here – and will remain welcome, even if Xbox isn’t where you play your favorite franchise. Because when everyone plays, we all win. We believe our news today will unlock a world of possibilities for more ways to play. Thank you for the ongoing support. We have so much more to come in the months ahead – I’m excited for the future and cannot wait to share it with you.

 

[antimeridian]

Destiny

Sony owns Destiny, not ABK. But if you meant MS wants more big live service titles like Destiny, probably, but I agree with above that the deal is 90% about the mobile garbage instead.

 

[Alienman]

MS is a graveyard publisher.

 

[DemonKing]

 

[IDtenT]

Officially the Disney of gaming now.

 

[Atlantico]

Officially the Disney of gaming now.

Rumors of Disney buying EA

Probably fake and gay rumors, but it's out there

 

[ferratilis]

 

[Azdul]

Must be really exciting to buy declining WoW and universally panned Diablo 4.

Bobby Kotick interview on CNBC should give you good idea what it is really about:

It is about AI, cloud and long, long list of IP that Activision, Blizzard and King owns.

We know that Warcraft 3 and GTA 1-2-3 remakes were terrible, horrible, no good garbage. Diablo 2 remake was meh. Gothic 1 Classic on Switch is basically original with minor improvements. ActiBlizzard, Rockstar or THQ Nordic does not have technology to make them fast, cheap and not terrible.

But - Microsoft does.

Push all outdated assets through AI pipeline, assign 15 engineers on the project - and you have modern looking remake for GamePass in few months - while Ubisoft will spend 6 years to make a new game with 1000 people team. Moreover - 'new version' of the game will have better gameplay than whatever Ubisoft will produce - because it will be the same gameplay as original game.

I think Microsoft will still release Diablo 5 - for the same reason Disney released universally panned new Indiana Jones after buying Lucasfilm - to fulfill legal obligation of 'using the franchise'.

 

[lukaszek]

so... blizzard gains independence? relatively speaking

 

[Atlantico]

Must be really exciting to buy declining WoW and universally panned Diablo 4.

Bobby Kotick interview on CNBC should give you good idea what it is really about:

It is about AI, cloud and long, long list of IP that Activision, Blizzard and King owns.

We know that Warcraft 3 and GTA 1-2-3 remakes were terrible, horrible, no good garbage. Diablo 2 remake was meh. Gothic 1 Classic on Switch is basically original with minor improvements. ActiBlizzard, Rockstar or THQ Nordic does not have technology to make them fast, cheap and not terrible.

But - Microsoft does.

Push all outdated assets through AI pipeline, assign 15 engineers on the project - and you have modern looking remake for GamePass in few months - while Ubisoft will spend 6 years to make a new game with 1000 people team. Moreover - 'new version' of the game will have better gameplay than whatever Ubisoft will produce - because it will be the same gameplay as original game.

I think Microsoft will still release Diablo 5 - for the same reason Disney released universally panned new Indiana Jones after buying Lucasfilm - to fulfill legal obligation of 'using the franchise'.

You have no imagination.

 

[Wirdschowerdn]

Release Raven Software from CoD servitude.

 

[Caim]

Release Raven Software from CoD servitude.

Raven is no longer what it was, but it is not what it can be.

 

[Great Deceiver]

So we can officially get an Arcanum revival now?

The fuckers used Sekiro footage in that video

 

[Great Deceiver]

Late Bloomer two screengrabs from the video, featuring the Sekiro intro cinematic:

 

[d1r]

So we can officially get an Arcanum revival now?

Did they actually create a fucking trailer for the acquisition?

Holy fucking shit, this is cringe.