Microsoft's revamped US $69 billion deal for Activision is on the cusp of going through

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British competition regulators gave preliminary approval Friday to Microsoft's restructured US $69 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard, easing a final global hurdle that paves the way for one of the largest tech transactions in history to go through.

The Competition and Markets Authority said the revamped proposal "substantially addresses previous concerns" about stifling competition in the fast-growing cloud gaming market, which 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.

Since the deal was announced in January 2022, Microsoft has secured approvals from antitrust authorities covering more than 40 countries. Crucially, it got a thumbs-up from the 27-nation European Union after agreeing to allow users and cloud gaming platforms to stream its titles without paying royalties for 10 years.

The companies agreed to extend the original July deadline for the deal to close to mid-October to try to overcome the British regulator's objections. The CMA then put its original decision on hold and opened a new investigation into the revamped proposal.

 

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