Microsoft President Brad Smith Softens Stance On UK CMA After ActiBlizz Agreement

During Microsoft's face-off with the UK CMA earlier this year, Microsoft president Brad Smith made some upfront comments about the UK's Competition and Markets Authority - the CMA. At the time, Smith said the CMA's block was "the darkest day in our four decades in Britain", but his tune has ultimately changed now that the authority has allowed the deal to go ahead.

Speaking with the BBC, Microsoft's president now feels that the CMA was "tough but fair" in these proceedings and that the concessions made over the deal were "good for everyone" in the end.

"I think the CMA vindicated its position but still created a pragmatic path forward for innovation and investment. I think that is good for everyone."

Of course, the headline change was Ubisoft becoming the rights holder for ActiBlizz cloud gaming in the UK. The third party developer and publisher will distribute the cloud versions of these titles in the region as they start to become available under Xbox ownership.

The rest of the deal stayed fairly true to what Xbox envisaged when it set out to acquire the huge game maker way back in January 2022. Microsoft has successfully acquired Activision Blizzard and all of its teams & franchises, presenting an interesting future for Xbox and the rest of the gaming industry.

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