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Well that's it. Microsoft has completed their acquisition of Activision Blizzard King thanks to the UK's Competition & Markets Authority clearing the way.

As announced by the UK CMA, they said the new deal where Microsoft does not purchase Activision's cloud gaming rights, which instead goes to Ubisoft would "preserve competitive prices and better services":

In its original investigation, the CMA found Microsoft already held a strong position in relation to cloud gaming and blocked the deal. 

The sale of Activision’s cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft will prevent the distribution of important, popular content – including games such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft – from coming under the control of Microsoft in relation to cloud gaming. The restructured deal substantially addressed the concerns that the CMA had following its original investigation, which concluded earlier this year.   

The CMA did identify limited residual concerns with the new deal, but Microsoft gave undertakings that will ensure that the terms of the sale of Activision’s rights to Ubisoft are enforceable by the CMA. 

The CMA consulted on these undertakings and is satisfied that this will provide the safety net needed to make sure this deal is properly implemented.

UK CMA

Microsoft also have their own announcement to note it's finished that's just celebrating the deal. In the post they confirmed the plan to add Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Game Pass and other platforms.

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What are you thoughts on this finally being completed?

Any feelings on Microsoft and Xbox aside, game industry consolidation is worrying. With many publishers and developers getting swallowed up, it hands a lot of power to a few companies. We've seen so many times now what happens like with the troubles at Embracer as just one recent example.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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45 comments
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dpanter Oct 13, 2023
The beginning of the end.
RevenantDak Oct 13, 2023
This is great for venture capitalists and stockholders, but terrible for gamers, designers, and programmers.

Consolidation means more money for C-suites and less jobs and less choices for consumers. Less choice always means higher prices.

Nothing good will come from this.
Pengling Oct 13, 2023
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Well done you absolute dunces. This is your greatest misstep since allowing GAME to buy Gamestation, thus removing any meaningful competition from UK games-retail because you could buy FIFA at Asda.
Tchey Oct 13, 2023
I don’t think anything good, for the players point of view, can come from this...
nlborlcl Oct 13, 2023
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Well, Bobby Kotick is out this year, so a small win amongst the epic fail. Maybe Bethesda games will be less buggy?

...<reaching>
Yeah, not a lot good here.
Mohandevir Oct 13, 2023
Seriously. AAA studios have proven time and again that most of their games are beautiful empty shells filled with micro-transactions scams. EA, Ubisoft and Activision/Blizzard all fall into this category. Gaming studios for shareholders. Not my cup of tea. Sad for the players and the real creators that would like to create games they want to play. They are gradually killing the industry. I haven't bought a AAA game in ages, I involuntarily tend to encourage indie developers, lately. I find that their games are of better quality.
Linux_Rocks Oct 13, 2023


Essoje Oct 13, 2023
I hope Microsoft suffers from indigestion.
Kimyrielle Oct 13, 2023
Look at the bright side: Usually, when big studios acquire others, the quality of games made by the studio that got taken over plummets. Looking at the stuff Activision/Blizzard churned out...this can't happen here! :D
Raaben Oct 13, 2023
Quoting: nlborlclWell, Bobby Kotick is out this year, so a small win amongst the epic fail

The statement reads that he is staying on as CEO "through the end of 2023" so the pessimistic part of me wonders if that will extend beyond afterwards or if some title shenanigans result in him staying on. I hate the guy, but he makes tons of money and we know what talks in the end.
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