Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision-Blizzard Looks Nearly Complete, With a Positive Update Coming Out of the EU

Microsoft’s attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard has been difficult. They have been trying it for more than a year. This $69 billion deal has been met with massive resistance from a number of directions. Especially from rival platform holder Sony as well as regulatory boards in both Europe and the USA.

Everyone is aware that the FTC cleared the Microsoft Activision deal somewhat reluctantly, but the European Board CMA was not convinced. To please them, Microsoft had to alter their deal in a number of ways, which might mean that there’s now some hope for it after all.

The Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal might be good to go

Both the FTC and CMA called this deal anti-competition. Some might even say that it’s nothing short of true. After all, once Microsoft gets its hands on Activision, it will have complete control over one of the most successful multiplayer game franchises ever, Call of Duty. Hence, Microsoft ended up signing contracts promising that upcoming Call of Duty franchises would come to both PlayStation and Nintendo consoles for at least the next 10 years.

The CMA then expressed concerns about Microsoft’s complete control over cloud gaming. They claimed that if this deal goes through somehow, Microsoft will reign over every other company that provides this experience. They said this even after Nvidia, a rival company itself, said that’s not the case. So, Microsoft had to sign off all the cloud gaming rights of Activision’s library to Ubisoft.

Now, after jumping through these hoops, it appears Microsoft is in the clear. Rumors suggest that EU would not be holding any more investigations beyond this one. It’s a reason for celebration for every Microsoft Xbox fan out there. It would mean the world for people who have subscribed to the Xbox Game Pass service, as their library would increase significantly after this deal goes through.

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Do not expect Call of Duty on Game Pass though

While this deal is all set to finalize any time now, there’s one small thing that Microsoft Xbox Game Pass holders should know. Call of Duty games—at least the new ones—would not be making their way to Game Pass Day 1.

Microsoft has literally stated in writing that they would refrain from bringing newer Call of Duty games straight to Game Pass. And this would remain the case for at least the next few years.

But it’s a general understanding that the rest of Activision’s library might come a little sooner.

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