Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Moves Towards Final Close

Well, gamers, the tech and gaming world has been abuzz with Microsoft's massive move to acquire Activision Blizzard, and it seems like the curtain is about to close on this high-stakes drama. If you've been keeping up, you'd know that this $68.7 billion dance has been quite the rollercoaster.

We've been covering this topic for some months now, as leaks surrounding the Nintendo Switch 2 ("Pro") were uncovered in court filings that referenced a Call of Duty release on the forthcoming console.

Let's dive in and see where things stand.

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October 13th: Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition Closing Date?

Microsoft is reportedly eyeing October 13th to finally announce the completion of its acquisition process for Activision Blizzard, the mastermind behind hits like Call of Duty. Mind you, this whole thing has been in the works for 20 months.

However, there's a catch: the final say still rests with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). They're the folks who had reservations earlier this year about Microsoft's deal.

Cloud Gaming Concerns and The Microsoft-Ubisoft Twist

A significant portion of this acquisition battle has been centered around cloud gaming concerns. The CMA was skeptical at first, especially around the cloud aspects of the deal.

So what did Microsoft do? They strategically restructured it.

Microsoft transferred cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard's current and upcoming games to another gaming giant, Ubisoft. This maneuver seemed to have done the trick, as Microsoft then received the nod of preliminary approval from the CMA.

Regulatory Hoops and Hurdles: A Global Affair

It hasn't just been the UK; Microsoft has had to jump through regulatory hoops across the pond as well. In Europe, they had to assure regulators about cloud-related aspects, following which the EU gave the green light. Meanwhile, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) tried blocking the acquisition last year. A high-tension court hearing with the FTC ensued, but Microsoft emerged still standing, albeit a bit winded.

While Microsoft seems poised to close this deal soon, the FTC isn’t letting go just yet. They're still contesting the acquisition's approval with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. A verdict on this is expected by December.

And, if that weren't enough, there's an administrative case against the acquisition still in the wings. So, even if Microsoft manages to wrap up the Activision Blizzard deal, it's clear that their legal challenges aren't over yet.

Wrapping It Up

It's worth noting that the original deadline for the deal was pushed to October 18th. However, if all goes well (and as Microsoft hopes), the tech giant might just seal the deal a tad earlier.

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