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Microsoft completes $69B deal to buy Activision Blizzard

theguardian.com

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Re: Microsoft completes $69B deal to buy Activision Blizzard

#7
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? What did I miss?

The deal was accepted by every country but UK. Now the climb down.

the US FTC case is still ongoing, however unlike the CMA they don't seem to have statutory powers to prevent the merger

if the FTC wins Microsoft would have to spin Activision out

Re: Microsoft completes $69B deal to buy Activision Blizzard

#8
post #6

Why? Microsoft is a trillion dollar company. If they want to compete, they can afford to.

Approval isn't based on whether or not they can afford to compete without the acquisition, it's based on whether or not the acquisition will meaningfully reduce competition.

Re: Microsoft completes $69B deal to buy Activision Blizzard

#9
post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why? What did I miss?

The deal was accepted by every country but UK. Now the climb down.

I have to confess I'm not really up to speed on the situation but, from the article...

> However, last month the watchdog said a revised deal that included selling cloud gaming rights outside Europe to Activision Blizzard’s French rival Ubisoft had addressed its concerns, indicating the tie-up would be approved.

Was this as a result of CMA's pressure, or would it have happened anyway?

(If it wouldn't have happened anyway, it doesn't feel like a climb down to me?)

Re: Microsoft completes $69B deal to buy Activision Blizzard

#10
post #6

Why? Microsoft is a trillion dollar company. If they want to compete, they can afford to.

Approval isn't based on whether or not they can afford to compete without the acquisition, it's based on whether or not the acquisition will meaningfully reduce competition.

Each competition authority has their own criteria.

But in this case, it will meaningfully reduce competition. For some reason UK's CMA only considered cloud gaming, which is a weird fixation. Maybe because it's an emerging market?

If all Activison Blizzard games become Xbox exclusive will reduce competition and screw consumers, yet that was dropped as a concern for who knows what reason.

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