Microsoft to close multibillion-dollar acquisition of Activision Blizzard next week

Redmond, Washington – Microsoft is close to completing a historic deal that could shake the gaming industry to its foundations. The technology company, which already has a firm foothold in the world of video games, is set to close its purchase of Activision Blizzard, one of the world’s largest and best-known video game companies, next week.

The Activision Blizzard acquisition has been a difficult process, with Microsoft spending months wrestling with various regulators to get the deal approved. Now that preliminary approval from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has paved the way for Microsoft, the company plans to finalise the mammoth $68.7 billion deal on Friday 13 October.

This could finally bring the 20-month process to a climax, provided the CMA does not raise any further objections to the deal by 7 October at the latest. The final decision is expected next week, and should the CMA raise no further hurdles, 13 October would be a memorable day for Microsoft.

Although the CMA has signalled its approval, Microsoft still faces a challenge from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in the USA. The FTC had already filed an appeal against the deal, but it was initially dismissed. However, there is a possibility that the FTC will appeal again in December. If this happens and the FTC is proven right, this could lead to a cancellation of the purchase. However, such a legal move would involve an unprecedented legal effort and could take the gaming industry in an unknown direction.

The global gaming community is eagerly awaiting developments in this explosive matter, as a possible conclusion of the deal would give Microsoft an even stronger position in the gaming industry and help shape the future of the entertainment industry. We will continue to follow developments in this matter closely and keep you informed of the latest developments.