According to foreign media The Verge reported, sources familiar with Microsoft’s plans revealed to The Verge that Microsoft is preparing to sell $68.7 billion (next Friday) on October 13 (next Friday). Completed the 20-month acquisition of Blizzard.
However, the exact date will still depend on the attitude of the UK Competition and Markets Authority. According to previous plans, October 6 was the deadline for feedback from the UK CMA on provisional approval of the transaction, with the CMA’s final decision expected to be made next week. If there are no unexpected changes at the “last minute”, Microsoft will successfully complete the transaction.
Microsoft and Activision had set a deadline of October 18 for the deal. If the deal can be completed next week, Microsoft will end a 20-month process of regulatory approval and competition earlier than expected.
Earlier this month, Tom Warren, senior editor of The Verge, revealed on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that Microsoft is expected to complete the acquisition within next week. However, outside of the CMA, the FTC still stated last month that it “will continue to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.” The FTC believes that this acquisition may make Microsoft’s Xbox platform exclusive to Activision Blizzard’s games, while Nintendo and Nintendo Sony will be excluded.
In relevant documents leaked recently, the FTC said, “The Commission has determined that in the public interest, this matter must be fully and expeditiously resolved, and therefore the Commission has remanded the case for retrial.”
▲ Picture source previously leaked FTC related documents
