As Microsoft launch a website praising the acquisition as their “vision for gaming”
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) have set a statutory deadline of March 1st for their investigation into Microsoft’s$68.7 billion acquisitionof Activision Blizzard. Microsoft, Activision Blizzard, and any third parties submitting responses to the CMA have until February to do so. As detailed in an update to the CMA’s administrative timetable for their investigation, it might be the case that provisional findings are brought forward in January, a year after the deal was first revealed.
Reutersreportedlast Friday that EU antitrust regulators have set a deadline of November 8th for their own preliminary decision on the Activision Blizzard buyout. If they decided to investigate further then it would result in a four-month second stage investigation, finishing close to the UK’s deadline. Meanwhile, Microsoft have set up awebsitethat sings the praises of the Activision Blizzard acquisition. Dubbed their “vision for gaming”, Microsoft say the deal is about offering “choice”, and “removing friction” between players and developers.
Microsoft aren’t the only big company trying to acquire chunks of the industry. Embracer Group recentlyacquiredanother gaggle of games companies, along with the rights to Tolkein’s Middle-Earth. The Swedish giants had already spent$300 millionto nab intellectual property such as Tomb Raider andDeus Ex, plus several studios, from Square Enix earlier in the year.
Chinese media behemoth Tencent are another major player in the industry’s consolidation. It was revealed last month that Tencent hadinvested €300 millionin Guillemot Brothers, Ubisoft’s largest stakeholder. Tencent also teamed with Sony at the end of August to buyalmost a thirdof Soulsborne masters FromSoftware’s stock too.
The consolidation of the games industry continues, and I’ll carry on updating you as and when these mergers are announced. I’m sure we’ll see plenty more.
