Microsoft Might Finally Close Its $68.7 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal This Week

This time for sure...right?

According to The Verge, Microsoft is preparing to conclude its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard on October 13…pending approval from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The CMA had previously blocked the deal but granted preliminary approval after Microsoft restructured it to transfer cloud gaming rights for Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft. After a 20-month process, a final decision from the CMA is expected next week — potentially allowing Microsoft to complete the acquisition ahead of the extended deadline of October 18. 

The reason for the delay was the UK’s CMA had concerns about the deal's impact on cloud gaming. Meanwhile, the EU approved it with specific concessions related to cloud services. 

Then we have the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which initially sued to block the acquisition but failed to secure a preliminary injunction; the outcome of which is currently under appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The FTC plans to resume its own administrative case against Microsoft's proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition, depending on the Ninth Circuit's decision.

While the FTC's actions can't stop Microsoft and Activision from completing their merge, the governmental body could seek that the companies break back apart, something they may likely try to have happen in a future hearing.