Here’s What Microsoft Can Do in $69 Billion Activision Deal After UK Ban

Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) on Wednesday blocked Microsoft’s $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,64,100 crore) acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard over concerns it would hinder cloud gaming. The ruling was a shock after the regulator had already resolved its concerns about the consoles market, a sector dominated by Sony‘s PlayStation and Microsoft‘s … Read more

Microsoft Signs 10-Year Deal With Nware After UK Blocks Activision Acquisition

Microsoft said on Friday it signed a 10-year deal with Nware to bring Xbox and Activision Blizzard games to the Spanish cloud-gaming platform, days after Britain blocked its $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,64,200 crore) buyout of the Call of Duty maker. The agreement marks the latest effort by Microsoft to ease fears its purchase of … Read more

Microsoft Hits Back at UK Regulator’s Decision to Block Activision Acquisition

Microsoft’s president Brad Smith said the UK regulator’s decision to prevent its acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard “had shaken confidence” in Britain as a destination for tech businesses. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which operates independently from government, blocked the deal on Wednesday, saying it could hit competition in the nascent … Read more

UK Regulator Blocks Microsoft’s $69 Billion Takeover of Activision Blizzard Over Cloud Gaming Concerns

Britain will block Microsoft’s $69 billion (roughly Rs.5,64,000 crore) acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard over its concerns it would hinder competition in cloud gaming, dealing an unexpected blow to the biggest-ever deal in gaming. The country’s antitrust regulator said on Wednesday that Microsoft’s commitment to offer access to Activision’s multi-billion dollar Call of … Read more

Activision Blizzard Accused of Spying on Employees, Threatening Them

Activision Blizzard violated US labour law by illegally surveilling employees during a walkout and threatening to shut down internal chat channels as a union sought to organize its workers, a federal labour agency said on Friday. A National Labor Relations Board spokeswoman said that unless Activision settles, the agency will issue a complaint against the … Read more

Microsoft’s $69 Billion Takeover of Call of Duty Maker Activision Expected to Secure EU Antitrust Approval

Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) is expected to secure EU antitrust approval for its $69 billion (roughly Rs. 5,68,094 crore) acquisition of Activision (ATVI.O) with its offer of licensing deals to rivals, three people familiar with the matter said, helping it to clear a major hurdle. Microsoft announced the Activision bid in January last year, its biggest ever, to … Read more

Microsoft’s Licensing Offer Said to Likely Satisfy EU on Activision Deal

Microsoft’s offer of licensing deals to rivals is likely to address EU antitrust concerns over its $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,68,000 crore) acquisition of Activision, three people familiar with the matter said, helping it to clear a major hurdle. Microsoft announced the Activision bid in January last year, its biggest ever, to take on leaders Tencent … Read more

EU Antitrust Regulators Extend Deadline for Verdict on Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal to April 25

EU antitrust regulators have extended their deadline for a decision on Microsoft’s $69 billion (roughly Rs. 5,71,800 crore) acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision to April 25, according to a European Commission filing on Wednesday. The Xbox maker announced the Activision Blizzard deal in January last year to help it compete better with leaders … Read more

Call of Duty Maker Activision Blizzard Accused of Firing Employees for Using Strong Language

Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard has been accused by a union of illegally firing two video game testers for using “strong language” in a protest of a new company policy that limits remote work. The Communication Workers of America (CWA) said it filed a complaint with the US National Labor Relations Board on Tuesday seeking to have … Read more

Microsoft Seeks to Push Activision Deal at EU Hearing for Market Competition

Microsoft President Brad Smith on Tuesday will seek to convince EU antitrust regulators at a closed hearing that the US software giant’s $69 billion (nearly Rs. 5,71,800 crore) bid for Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard will boost competition. Smith will lead a delegation of 18 senior executives, including Microsoft Gaming Chief Executive Officer Phil Spencer, while … Read more