Microsoft Exec Optimistic About Finalizing Activision Acquisition
Phil Spencer, the Xbox chief of Microsoft Corp., stated that the software company is still collaborating with UK regulators to resolve the remaining obstacles in its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. Moreover, Microsoft is optimistic about successfully completing the deal.
“We are cooperating with regulators,” Spencer said in an interview with Bloomberg Television on Wednesday, referring to Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority as well as U.S. and European regulators. “We remain confident with the work we are doing with the CMA and the European Commission, as well as here with the FTC in the United States, that we will complete this acquisition.”
In July, Activision agreed to give Microsoft until Oct. 18 to resolve remaining regulatory issues and complete what would be the largest video game deal ever.
The CMA’s original objection focused on concerns that the acquisition could give Microsoft control over the nascent but fast-growing cloud gaming market. In an effort to alleviate those concerns, Microsoft last month struck a deal to give French video game publisher Ubisoft Entertainment SA cloud streaming rights to Activision games. In a rare move, the CMA agreed to reconsider approving the deal and set a new deadline – also October 18 – for a preliminary decision on a new investigation.
In the interview, Spencer also said that the new Starfield game from Xbox’s ZeniMax studio has been in preview for a week and is already the company’s most played exclusive game of the current generation of console games.
