Microsoft looks to close Activision deal next week - The Verge (updated)

Activision Blizzard

06/10/2023 11:45

(Adds background in paragraphs 4-5)
       Oct 6 (Reuters) - Microsoft  MSFT.O  is aiming to close
its $69 billion deal for "Call of Duty" publisher Activision
Blizzard  ATVI.O  on Oct. 13 if it gets approval from Britain's
antitrust regulator, the Verge reported on Friday, citing a
source.
    The Xbox maker had in July extended the cutoff date for the
deal to Oct. 18 to get more time to secure approval from the UK.
    The companies did not immediately respond to Reuters
requests for comment.
    Microsoft won preliminary approval from the Competition and
Markets Authority last month after Activision agreed to sell its
streaming rights to Ubisoft Entertainment  UBIP.PA . 
    If successful the purchase would mark the biggest deal in
the gaming industry, bringing together Microsoft's heft in the
console market with Activision's titles including "Call of Duty"
and "World of Warcraft".

     

 (Reporting by Zaheer Kachwala in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun
Koyyur)
 ((Zaheer.Kachwala@thomsonreuters.com;))