Microsoft's $69-B Activision Deal Nears Completion

British competition regulators gave preliminary approval on Friday to Microsoft's restructured $69 billion deal to acquire video game maker Activision Blizzard, easing a final global hurdle that paves the way for one of the largest tech transactions in history, as reported by Kelvin Chan for the Associated Press (AP).

The announcement indicates that the UK watchdog is close to reversing its earlier decision to block Microsoft from taking over the maker of hit gaming franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. I Photo: Call of Duty Facebook

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated that the revamped proposal "substantially addresses previous concerns" about stifling competition in the fast-growing cloud gaming market.

This market frees players from buying expensive consoles and gaming computers by streaming to tablets, phones, and other devices. The updated offer "opens the door to the deal being cleared," the watchdog said, though there are lingering concerns.

Microsoft has offered remedies that the watchdog provisionally decided will resolve those issues, and regulators are now gathering feedback from "interested parties" before making a final decision.

The announcement indicates that the UK watchdog is close to reversing its earlier decision to block Microsoft from taking over the maker of hit gaming franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft.

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