Tag: Cma
News It's Been 12 Months Since Xbox Faced A Major Activision Blizzard Crisis
And in some ways, it's still not over
Last year was absolutely packed full of news about Xbox's continual attempts to acquire Activision Blizzard in various countries around the world, but a major roadblock almost put a stop to everything 12 months ago. Yes, it's been almost an entire year since the UK's Competition and Markets Authority blocked...
News CMA Criticises 'Tactics Employed By Microsoft' Despite Agreeing To ActiBlizz Deal
Related to the initial investigation
Although the UK Competition and Markets Authority has today agreed to Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the regulator has had some harsh words to share about Microsoft's "tactics" along the way. In an official press release, CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell criticised Microsoft's handling of the...
News UK CMA Approves Microsoft's Acquisition Of Activision Blizzard
It's official!
Microsoft's long dispute with the UK Competition and Markets Authority over the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is finally over! The UK regulator officially approved the deal earlier today, paving the way for the takeover to go through. The CMA confirmed this was on condition of Microsoft selling cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft...
News After Almost Two Years, Next Week Could Be The Finale For Xbox's ActiBlizz Takeover
As long as everything goes smoothly
For the best part of two years, we've been hearing how the Pure Xbox community is fed up of the Activision Blizzard acquisition and just wants it to either happen or not happen - and we may be getting our wish in just a few days' time. According to a source over at The Verge, Microsoft appears to be targeting...
News UK CMA Delays Decision On Xbox ActiBlizz Deal Until August
The previous deadline was July 18th
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has announced today that it needs more time to decide on Xbox's latest proposal for the takeover of Activision Blizzard, pushing its deadline back from July 18th to August 29th, 2023. In an official filing on the UK Government website, it's mentioned that there's...
Report Microsoft President To Discuss Activision Blizzard Deal With UK Chancellor This Week
A visit to London is on the cards
There's still a lot going on behind the scenes in regards to the UK CMA's decision to block Xbox's Activision Blizzard merger, with Microsoft President Brad Smith meeting to discuss the deal with UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt this week. Bloomberg is reporting that Smith is in London to give a scheduled talk about the...
News European Commission Explains Why It Disagreed With UK CMA Over Xbox ActiBlizz Deal
"Occasionally, we reach decisions that are not aligned..."
Microsoft has officially appealed against the block of its Activision Blizzard takeover in the UK, with the formal process taking place earlier this week. The appeal is being handled by the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT). This was announced by a Microsoft spokesperson in response to...
News UK CMA Issues Official Response To EU's Activision Blizzard Verdict
"The CMA stands by its decision"
Today's announcement that the European Commission has approved Microsoft's Activision Blizzard takeover hasn't gone unnoticed by the UK CMA, which itself blocked the takeover just a few weeks ago. In an official statement on social media, the CMA said that it recognised and respected the verdict by the
Report Xbox Boss Phil Spencer Reassures Employees Following UK ActiBlizz Decision
Everything's not lost
Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been speaking to employees this week about the UK's decision to block Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard, reportedly seeking to reassure them about the future of the company's gaming division. According to a report from Bloomberg, Spencer acknowledged the disappointment of everyone at...
News Microsoft President Makes Headline News With 'Furious' Response To UK ActiBlizz Verdict
"The darkest day in our four decades in Britain"
If you look at the official BBC News website in the UK right now, the top story relates to the UK CMA's decision to block Microsoft's takeover of Activision Blizzard, focusing on some comments made by Microsoft President Brad Smith. Speaking to the BBC, Smith didn't hold back with his thoughts,...
News Cloud Gaming Platform Calls Out Decision To Block Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal
"Boosteroid team and our users disagree"
In response to the CMA blocking Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard due to concerns about cloud gaming, Ukraine-based cloud gaming service 'Boosteroid' has issued a brief statement. It mentions how its team and users "disagree" with the decision and stand behind a statement made by Microsoft...
News Activision Blizzard Criticises UK Verdict As Microsoft Takeover Gets Declined
"This report is a disservice to UK citizens"
Activision Blizzard has released a statement today following the UK CMA's verdict to decline the takeover by Microsoft, with ActiBlizz CEO Bobby Kotick sharing some words regarding his frustration over the decision. Kotick says that this is "far from the final word on this deal", and both ActiBlizz and...
News Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal Officially Blocked In The UK
"Microsoft’s proposed solution failed to effectively address the concerns"
Well, we didn't see this one coming! The UK Competition and Markets Authority has today decided to block Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard, stating that the company failed to address concerns about cloud gaming. "The final decision to prevent the...
News UK CMA 'Expected' To Approve Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal This Week
We should find out very soon
It's a big week for Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard, as the UK's Competition and Markets Authority is set to make its final decision on whether to approve the takeover by this Wednesday, April 26th. Ahead of that date, the Financial Times is reporting that the CMA is "expected" to vote in favour...
News Sony Blasts CMA's Xbox Verdict As 'Surprising, Unprecedented And Irrational'
"The CMA should revisit its analysis"
It was revealed back in late March that Xbox appeared to be getting close to approving the Activision Blizzard takeover in the UK, with the CMA explaining that it no longer had any concerns about Call of Duty and PlayStation. As you might expect, Sony isn't very happy about that. In the company's response to...
News Xbox Takes Major Step Towards Activision Blizzard Approval In UK
No more concerns about Call of Duty and PlayStation
Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard looks to almost be complete in the UK, as the Competition and Markets Authority has today narrowed its "scope of concerns" relating to the deal, specifically in regards to the "lessening of competition". Basically, the CMA no longer thinks that the deal...
News Microsoft Offers ActiBlizz Remedies To EU, Deadline Pushed Back Yet Again
A decision will now be made by late May
These Activision Blizzard news drops are becoming daily again at the moment, with the latest news revolving around Microsoft's attempts to encourage the European Commission to accept the takeover. According to Reuters and Yahoo Finance, Microsoft has now offered remedies to the EU regulator in an attempt to...
News UK CMA Documents Reveal Six Companies In Favour Of Xbox ActiBlizz Acquisition
"PlayStation needs better competition"
There's more talk about Activision Blizzard going on today, and that's because the UK's Competition and Markets Authority has made more recent documents available to the public, including responses from Microsoft and Sony. Perhaps the most interesting new documents are related to six companies who have thrown...
News Sony Remains 'Extremely Sceptical' Of Reaching ActiBlizz Agreement With Microsoft
"The Transaction should be prohibited or subject to a structural remedy"
The Activision Blizzard drama has opened up once again today following newly published responses to the UK's Competition and Markets Authority from both Microsoft and Sony, although they're actually dated February 22nd, 2023 - this is just the first time we're getting to see...
News Microsoft Agrees Deal With Nvidia To Bring Xbox & ActiBlizz Games To GeForce Now
Phil Spencer has made a statement on the partnership
There's been another big acquisition-led showdown in the EU today, as Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo and other companies all meet to discuss Xbox's Activision Blizzard deal. One of those other companies is Nvidia, who've just agreed a deal with Microsoft relating to bringing Xbox games to the 'GeForce...
News Analysts Predict Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal Will Close Soon, Despite UK Objections
"We read today's release as a signal..."
We finally heard from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority on Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard yesterday, and it wasn't good news, with the CMA provisionally finding that the takeover "could result in higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation for UK gamers". However,...
News CMA Reveals Public Feedback Has Been Mostly In Favour Of Xbox's ActiBlizz Acquisition
Based on around 2100 responses
The UK Competition and Markets Authority is currently conducting a "Phase 2" investigation into Microsoft's attempted acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and you may remember that a couple of months ago, the authority also began asking the general public for their views on the takeover. Well, those results are now in,...
News The CMA Wants Your Views On Xbox's Takeover Of Activision Blizzard
"We invite anyone, including members of the public"
You probably know by now that the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is proceeding with a Phase 2 investigation into Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and now in a new post on the UK government website
