Microsoft plans to complete acquisition of Activision Blizzard this week

Last January, Microsoft made a monumental move by acquiring the gaming behemoth Activision Blizzard at $95 per share, culminating in a staggering transaction valued at $68.7 billion. This acquisition stands as the most lavish in Microsoft’s storied history. However, the road to completion was fraught with hurdles, especially encountering frequent impediments in negotiations with the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), compelling Microsoft to extend the deal’s deadline to October 18, 2023.

According to The Verge, Microsoft aims to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard by this Friday, October 13th. It’s noteworthy that October 6th marked the ultimate deadline for the CMA’s provisional feedback on the transaction. Presently, Microsoft awaits the green light from the CMA. Barring unforeseen setbacks, Microsoft is poised to seamlessly conclude the deal next week.

Concurrently, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) persists in its endeavor to stymie Microsoft’s procurement of Activision Blizzard. They argue that this union would bestow upon Microsoft’s Xbox platform exclusivity over Activision Blizzard’s games, effectively sidelining competitors like Sony and Nintendo. The FTC is currently appealing to the Ninth Circuit Court, with a verdict anticipated to be unveiled in early December. It’s rumored that the FTC might seek to annul the acquisition; however, such an endeavor promises to be a lengthy and Herculean task for the regulatory body.

After nearly 20 months of relentless pursuit, Microsoft seems on the cusp of seeing the dawn of its acquisition of Activision Blizzard.