Microsoft’s bid for Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard has been given UK approval, removing a last hurdle to the biggest-ever gaming deal.

The UK’s regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), said it gave the go-ahead to after the restructured deal substantially addressed its earlier concerns.

Microsoft, who make the Xbox, announced the biggest gaming deal in history in early 2022, but the £56bn ($69bn) acquisition was blocked in April by Britain’s competition regulator.

It was concerned the US computing giant would gain too much control of the new cloud gaming market but changes have since been made to the deal.

Read more
Microsoft’s battle for Activision ends in score draw for gaming’s future

Last month the regulator appeared to hint the deal would get the go-ahead as French game maker, Ubisoft, agreed to acquire Activision’s cloud gaming rights, rather than Microsoft.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

But there was criticism for Microsoft by the head of the CMA. “Tactics employed by Microsoft are no way to engage with the CMA”, Sarah Cardell, CMA chief executive said.

FIFA’s interactive World Cup in ‘disarray’ as EA Sports launches rebranded game of its own

Microsoft’s battle for Activision ends in score draw for gaming’s future

Next Xbox revealed in secret documents – and court claims Microsoft leaked them itself

“Microsoft had the chance to restructure during our initial investigation but instead continued to insist on a package of measures that we told them simply wouldn’t work. Dragging out proceedings in this way only wastes time and money.”

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

The worry was that Microsoft would lock up competition in cloud gaming as the market takes off, limiting competition and bringing up prices for UK cloud gaming customers.

The new deal, however, “will also help to ensure that cloud gaming providers will be able to use non-Windows operating systems for Activision content, reducing costs and increasing efficiency,” the CMA said.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Cloud-based games such as Candy Crush are also owned by Activision Blizzard.

Regulators in Europe and the United States had given the green light to the merger, which had left the UK watchdog an outlier.

Related posts:

Zara owner Inditex sees global sales top pre-pandemic levels Football finance veteran Harris eyes club takeover through US SPAC deal Airlines given glimmer of hope by relaxation of US travel rules – but respite might not last long Asset manager Brooks Macdonald stalks £20bn rival 7IM Energy bill spending heads towards highest level since at least the 1950s How new chancellor Nadhim Zahawi could affect the UK’s economy and taxes Holiday Inn owner IHG announces share buyback after travel rebound Rees-Mogg windfall in jeopardy as Somerset sale talks stall Musk says Twitter ‘not on the fast lane to bankruptcy anymore’ Nearly 100,000 prepayment energy meters force-fitted last year Buyout titan approaches Cineworld and plans for new major airline in the Gulf Northern Gritstone backs motor neurone therapy group Crucible