Microsoft to Sell , Activision Blizzard Streaming Rights to Ubisoft , in Bid for UK Approval.
Microsoft to Sell , Activision Blizzard Streaming Rights to Ubisoft , in Bid for UK Approval.
In a blog post on Aug. 21, Microsoft revealed that it is restructuring its merger proposal with Activision Blizzard, Engadget reports. .
In a blog post on Aug. 21, Microsoft revealed that it is restructuring its merger proposal with Activision Blizzard, Engadget reports. .
By including rival Ubisoft, Microsoft hopes to ease any concerns that it would dominate cloud gaming if the deal goes through. .
Those concerns caused the
U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to block the deal earlier this year.
As a result of the agreement with Ubisoft, Microsoft believes its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard presents a substantially different transaction under U.K. law than the transaction Microsoft submitted for the CMA’s consideration in 2022, Microsoft President Brad Smith, via blog post.
Ubisoft will compensate Microsoft
for the cloud streaming rights to Activision Blizzard’s games through a one-off payment and through a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism, including an option that
supports pricing based on usage, Microsoft President Brad Smith, via blog post.
Ubisoft shared the news as well.
With a single subscription to Ubisoft+ Multi Access, players will soon be able to play their favorite Ubisoft and Activision Blizzard games across multiple platforms including PC, Xbox consoles and Amazon Luna, and on the PlayStation platform through Ubisoft+ Classics, Ubisoft's Daniel O'Connor, via blog post.
The CMA will take a look at the restructured deal and make a decision by Oct. 18, Engadget reports. .
The CMA will take a look at the restructured deal and make a decision by Oct. 18, Engadget reports. .
This is not a green light. We will carefully and objectively assess the details of the restructured deal and its impact on competition, including in light of third-party comments, Sarah Cardell, CMS chief executive, via statement.
Our goal has not changed — any future decision on this new deal will ensure that the growing cloud gaming market continues to benefit from open and effective competition driving innovation and choice, Sarah Cardell, CMS chief executive, via statement