This was literally the only reason I cared about the Microsoft/ Activision fiasco. 🤷
Well his company just got sold to Microsoft. So unless I’m mistaken and Microsoft plans to keep Bobby in the CEO position (which would be an EXTREMELY bad look) I dont think its up to him.
Since the Microsoft acquisition was just approved, wouldn’t that make this Phil Spencer’s decision?
Oh it was approved? Goodie, more of the gaming industry gets vacuumed up into 2 companies.
The CMA in the UK is still trying to block it. Appeal is in two weeks. That said, even if they were successful I get the feeling that MS would just do a business carve out in the UK and acquire ActiBlizz anyway
Based on my (admittedly limited) understanding of the situation, you’re right. Microsoft have already hinted that if the UK interferes with the deal, theyd stop doing business there rather than pull out of the acquisition.
Just for the record, the merger is not happening yet. Even if it’s approved in the US after the FTC lost it’s bid to pause it recently, it has still been denied in the UK. That has not been reversed and the appeal process for that typically takes longer than the deal would be possible. MS is seeking an expedited appeal.
Now, that being said, the UK’s reasoning for stopping it was weirdly bad (cloud gaming monopoly), but that’s what they went with, so who knows.
Blizzard can say no but once Microsoft owns them it doesn’t matter.
And Microsoft has made it pretty clear that these games are coming to gamepass.