The Competition Appeal Tribunal in the UK has conditionally agreed to temporarily pause Microsoft’s appeal of the UK’s Competition And Markets Authority’s (CMA) previous decision to block the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Both Microsoft and the CMA have requested additional time for negotiation just before the CMA’s decision deadline. However, certain evidence still needs to be provided by Thursday, July 20, in order for the appeal to be halted. This extension for negotiation could potentially result in a slight delay in Microsoft’s acquisition.
According to The Verge, the CMA has extended the date for its final order from July 18 to August 29. Therefore, it is possible that the deal may not be resolved until after July 18, although the exact timeline remains uncertain. If the deal extends beyond July 18, Microsoft will need to apply for an extension or pay a fee of $3 billion to Activision. Despite the possibility of the acquisition being completed within the next 24 hours following Microsoft’s victory over the FTC and Activision’s delisting from the NASDAQ stock exchange, it now appears that the process may take a bit longer.
In April, the CMA blocked the acquisition due to concerns about a potential monopoly in the cloud gaming industry. Microsoft promptly filed an appeal. Recent negotiations between the CMA and Microsoft have made progress, particularly after Microsoft successfully halted the Federal Trade Commission’s temporary injunction in court. Previous reports suggested that Microsoft was willing to make a “small divestment,” likely related to cloud gaming in the UK.
In other news related to Microsoft, the company has announced the discontinuation of Xbox Live Gold, rebranding it as Xbox Game Pass Core. Additionally, Microsoft and Sony have reached a deal to ensure that Call of Duty remains available on PlayStation.
Please note that the products mentioned in this article were independently chosen by our editors. GameSpot may receive a share of the revenue if you make a purchase through the links provided on our site.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
