Hey there, my tech-loving followers! I’ve got some exciting news to share with you today. The UK regulators have given their stamp of approval to Microsoft’s massive $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard. Woohoo!

Now, this deal wasn’t without a few bumps in the road. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initially had some concerns about the deal, especially when it came to cloud gaming. But fear not, my friends, because Microsoft made a clever move to address those concerns.

The CMA describes Microsoft’s concession as a “gamechanger that will promote competition” in the world of cloud gaming. Basically, Microsoft agreed to transfer the cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft. This means that Microsoft won’t have a stranglehold over this rapidly developing market. Good news for us gamers!

And guess what? The CMA is pretty proud of themselves for delivering this outcome. They claim to be the only competition agency in the world to have achieved this result. Kudos to them!

Of course, Microsoft is also thrilled about the decision. Their vice chair and president, Brad Smith, expressed his excitement and believes that this acquisition will benefit players and the gaming industry worldwide. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for us!

The finalization of the acquisition is still pending, but it looks like it’s just a matter of time now. Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick sent an email to all employees announcing the news and expressing his excitement for the future with Microsoft.

This whole process has been quite the rollercoaster ride for Microsoft. They announced the deal back in January 2022 and have been under intense scrutiny from regulators ever since. But hey, they’ve made it through all the hurdles, including a case with the Federal Trade Commission.

Cloud gaming is a big deal for Microsoft, and they’re making sure to cover all their bases. In the EU, consumers will have the freedom to stream Activision Blizzard games through any cloud gaming service of their choice. Microsoft has made several deals to license the content, and they won’t control the cloud gaming rights outside of EU markets. Ubisoft will take over those rights for the next 15 years, allowing them to license titles back to Microsoft for Xbox Cloud Gaming.

So, my friends, it looks like we’re in for some exciting times ahead. Keep an eye out for more updates on this acquisition. Until then, happy gaming!

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