2023-10-13 10:00:17
By Le Figaro with AFP
Published 1 hour ago, Updated now
The digital giant was initially refused in April. Rokas / stock.adobe.com
The British competition authority has approved the takeover of the publisher of the multiplayer combat video game Call of Duty by Microsoft. The operation is estimated at $75 billion.
The British competition authority, the CMA, announced on Friday that it was giving a definitive green light to Microsoft joining forces with Ubisoft to save its megamerger with game publisher Activision, publisher of the video game “Call of Duty” , removing the final regulatory hurdle to the acquisition.
After a refusal in April, the manufacturer of the Xbox game console had submitted to the British authority at the end of August an amended version of its proposed takeover of the American video game publisher, and this is “authorized by the CMA“, indicated the British regulator in a press release. The software titan plans in particular in the new version of its $69 billion buyout project notable transfers: the online gaming rights of Activision Blizzard – including those of the global hits “Call of Duty» et «Candy Crush» – will be sold to the French Ubisoft.
Also read: Microsoft buys video game publisher Activision (Call of Duty, Candy Crush) for $69 billion
Microsoft president ‘grateful’
The CMA had given a provisional agreement at the end of September but reported “limited residual concerns“. She assured Friday that the solutions proposed by Microsoft will provide the necessary guarantees “to ensure that this agreement is properly implemented». «We are grateful for the thorough review (of the new agreement) and decision by the CMA today“, immediately reacted Microsoft President Brad Smith in a statement sent to AFP.
«We have now cleared the final regulatory hurdle to complete this acquisition, which we believe will benefit gamers and the gaming industry worldwide“, he added.
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