Microsoft completes Activision Blizzard takeover after getting UK approval

The deal had been held up for months after being blocked by the UK’s competition watchdog.

The CMA was worried that Xbox maker Microsoft would get a ‘stranglehold’ on the market (Mike Egerton/PA) (PA Archive)

Microsoft said that it had completed one of the biggest takeovers in computer gaming history after winning approval from the UK regulator.

In a US regulatory filing the company said that the 69 billion US dollars (£56.6 billion) deal, which was announced in January 2022, had been completed on Friday.

It comes after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the Xbox owner could go ahead with the takeover

After the deal was initially blocked by the CMA in April, Microsoft agreed to buy Activision without cloud gaming rights.

But businesses and their advisers should be in no doubt that the tactics employed by Microsoft are no way to engage with the CMA

Sarah Cardell, CMA's chief executive

The new deal will stop Microsoft from having a “stranglehold” over the UK cloud gaming market, the CMA said.

The regulator said it would preserve competitive prices for gamers and make sure consumers get more choice.

Assassin’s Creed video game maker Ubisoft will buy Activision’s cloud gaming rights instead.

Ubisoft has plans to offer new ways to access Activision’s content, including through multigame subscription services, the regulator said.

It also means that cloud gaming providers will not have to use Windows systems for Activision’s gaming content, which could reduce costs.

But the CMA criticised Microsoft for “dragging out” proceedings during its investigation into the merger.

Sarah Cardell, the CMA’s chief executive, said: “With the sale of Activision’s cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft, we’ve made sure Microsoft can’t have a stranglehold over this important and rapidly developing market.

“But businesses and their advisers should be in no doubt that the tactics employed by Microsoft are no way to engage with the CMA.

“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.”

The CMA initially rejected the deal over concerns that it would give Microsoft an unfair advantage in the cloud computer game market.

But it later pushed back its final decision so it could consider Microsoft’s argument that new developments mean the acquisition could go through.

A legal battle between the two was halted in July after the watchdog said it was willing to negotiate, and after a US judge said it would not stop the takeover.

Brad Smith, the president of Microsoft, said the group is “grateful” for the decision to approve the acquisition which he believes will “benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide”.

Mr Smith had described the initial decision as “probably the darkest day in our four decades in Britain”, adding that it sent a message that the EU is a more favourable place to start a business than the UK.

Activision Blizzard, which also creates World Of Warcraft and Candy Crush, said: “The CMA’s official approval is great news for our future with Microsoft, and we look forward to becoming part of the Xbox team.”