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It's official: Activision Blizzard is now owned by Microsoft

Samuel Buchmann
13.10.2023
Translation: machine translated

Microsoft has definitely bought Activision Blizzard. This comes after the British regulatory authority CMA was the last important body to authorise the takeover.

The 69 billion dollar deal is Microsoft's largest acquisition in the company's history. It makes the company the third-largest player in the gaming market behind Tencent and Sony. Over 8500 Activision Blizzard employees have a new employer. The current CEO Bobby Kotick will remain in his position for the handover until the end of 2023.

The mega takeover of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has cleared the final hurdle: The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) was the last important authority to sign off on the deal. In April, the CMA had still blocked the takeover. It saw a major risk that Microsoft could gain a monopoly position in cloud gaming as a result.

End of a 20-month odyssey

The EU had already approved the deal in May. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wanted to block it, but was prevented from doing so by a court. The FTC has appealed against the decision, but a decision will not be made until December. In the meantime, the FTC is powerless and Microsoft can finalise the takeover.

Cover image: Activision Blizzard

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Samuel Buchmann
Senior Editor
Samuel.Buchmann@digitecgalaxus.ch

My fingerprint often changes so drastically that my MacBook doesn't recognise it anymore. The reason? If I'm not clinging to a monitor or camera, I'm probably clinging to a rockface by the tips of my fingers.

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