The EU is apparently set to approve Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout after all

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May 10, 2023 3:00 PM

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When the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority put the brakes on Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard at the end of April, we saw multiple pundits suggest the EU might follow suit. That apparently won’t be the case, however, as Reuters is reporting today on multiple sources who say the EU will, in fact, approve the merger as early as next week.

As readers will recall, Activision-Blizzard and Microsoft brokered the deal back at the start of 2022 following half a year of staggering blows to Activision-Blizzard’s reputation and stock value thanks to multiple harassment and discrimination scandals and related lawsuits, resignations, and sackings. Microsoft was set to buy out ABK to the tune of almost $70B this summer, but regulators around the globe have expressed concerns with Microsoft’s anticipated power in the online gaming space. If the EU approves the deal, the key holdouts would be the UK and the US – unless the right appeasements are offered.

• Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout is official, Kotick to stay through end of 2023

• UK government body ‘opens the door’ for Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard in preliminary approval

• UK CMA confirms block of Microsoft’s acquisition of ActiBlizz, prompting a restructuring of the deal

• UK regulatory body seeks additional comments regarding the Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard merger

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• Consumers hoping to block Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard lose in court yet again

• Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard file a legal request for the FTC to drop its August hearing

• Activision-Blizzard Q2 2023: Diablo IV doubled Blizzard’s revenues as MAUs continue decline

• Rumor: Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard are negotiating an extension on their merger deal

• FTC loses its attempt at a pause of Microsoft ABK merger, Sony signs the 10-year Call of Duty agreement

• The FTC asks the Ninth Circuit for a ‘temporary pause’ of Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard merger

• Yes, the FTC is appealing the decision not to block Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard merger

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• FTC uses Zenimax’s current exclusivity as a primary argument against Microsoft’s ActiBlizz buyout in court

• Court grants FTC temporary restraining order to block Microsoft/ABK merge ahead of ongoing lawsuit

• FTC asks US court to block alleged Microsoft/ABK plan to ‘consummate’ merge despite ongoing lawsuit

• Microsoft is reportedly considering pulling Activision out of the UK market over regulatory block

• Bobby Kotick decries ‘aggressive labor movement’ trying to ‘destabilize’ Activision-Blizzard

• South Korea approves merger of Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard as both companies continue to fight UK regulators

• Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard gets full clearance from China

• The EU has conditionally approved Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard

• UK government body issues order that blocks Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard from ‘acquiring an interest’ in each other

• The EU is apparently set to approve Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout after all

• Lawful Neutral: What if Activision-Blizzard just… sold Blizzard?

• Block of Activision-Blizzard merger is ‘darkest day’ for Microsoft in the UK, Brad Smith argues

• Activision-Blizzard Q1 2023: ABK revenues are up as Blizzard MAUs fall back down to reality

• UK regulators block Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard

• Japan drops Microsoft/Activision-Blizzard antitrust probe as lawmakers scrutinize Japanese gaming market

• UK regulator finds Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout won’t harm competition or Call of Duty on PlayStation

• Activision-Blizzard exec calls out Sony’s Jim Ryan for charade over Call of Duty

• Sony legal docs suggest hypothetical ways Microsoft could hurt Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles

• The FTC grants Microsoft’s request for Sony docs as leaks say the EU will approve ABK merger

• Microsoft strikes deal to put Activision games on NVIDIA GeForce Now

• Microsoft and Nintendo ink deal to put Call of Duty on Nintendo consoles for the next decade

• Activision-Blizzard is stuck with Bobby Kotick if the FTC blocks Microsoft’s takeover

• Sony argues Microsoft’s doc request in FTC lawsuit is tantamount to harassment

• UK regulators suggest Microsoft choked Google Stadia out of the cloud gaming market

• Activision-Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick says Sony won’t return his phone calls

• UK regulators find that Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard buyout could harm UK market

• Activision-Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick predicts a bleak future for a UK that rejects the Microsoft merger

• Activision-Blizzard Q4 2022: Blizzard revenues, MAUs spike thanks to WoW Dragonflight and Overwatch 2

• FTC and Microsoft confirm a lack of ‘substantive’ settlement talks as UK regulatory body extends its investigation

• FTC lawsuit against Microsoft enters pre-trial hearings today while the merger is approved in Chile

• Microsoft claims the FTC’s antitrust lawsuit violates its fifth amendment rights

• Gamers file lawsuit to stop Microsoft’s buyout of Activision-Blizzard over monopoly concerns

• The FTC is moving to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard

• Microsoft to concede Call of Duty to Sony for 10 years to stave off UK government’s halt of ActiBlizz buyout

• European Union’s executive arm begins investigating the Microsoft-ActiBlizz buyout

• UK regulatory body puts out a call for public evidence and opinions on the Microsoft Activision-Blizzard buyout

• Activision-Blizzard’s Bobby Kotick downplays regulatory scrutiny, says Microsoft deal is on track for 2023

• Microsoft admits that Activision-Blizzard acquisition is primarily driven by a desire to get into mobile gaming

• Microsoft argues Acti-Blizz buyout won’t stifle competition because its games are ‘nothing unique’

• Activision-Blizzard tells the SEC it hasn’t yet negotiated Kotick’s future with Microsoft

• Some U.S. senators give the Microsoft-Activision buyout the big stink-eye

• Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard offer happened lightning-fast – and Microsoft wasn’t the only bidder

• Warren Buffet’s company stands to make a mint on the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal

• WAPO’s latest Bobby Kotick article lays bare his vindictive litigation history

• Microsoft is acquiring Activision-Blizzard, Bobby Kotick is still CEO

Source: Reuters. Cheers, Roger!

Activision-Blizzard is considered a controversial gaming company owing to a long string of scandals, including the Blitzchung boycott, mass layoffs, labor disputes, pay disparities, sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits, federal settlements, executive misconduct, pipeline issues, messy financials, declining titles, failed partnerships, widespread illegal unionbusting, disastrous management, brain drain, and the still-astonishing revelation that the CEO threatened to have his assistant murdered. As of 2023, the company is being acquired by Microsoft.

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