CMA finally approves Activision Blizzard's acquisition by Microsoft

The UK's competition authority has stated that Microsoft's amended bid to purchase Activision Blizzard "opens the door" to the merger being approved. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) stated that the revised agreement appeared to satisfy its concerns.

According to the revised offers, Microsoft will not purchase Activision Blizzard's cloud gaming rights. The first $69 billion transaction was thwarted by UK officials. The CMA barred Microsoft from acquiring Activision in its entirety earlier this year, citing worries that the merger would impair competition in cloud gaming in the UK.

The competition watchdog was then provided with a reworked contract by Microsoft last month. In accordance with the new proposal, Microsoft consented to give French video game maker Ubisoft a 15-year license to stream Activision titles from the cloud.

This area of Activision's company was sold to Ubisoft, so Microsoft won't have any control over how games like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft are streamed in the cloud.

In a statement on Friday, the CMA's chief executive, Sarah Cardell, said:

"The CMA's position has been consistent throughout - this merger could only go ahead if competition, innovation, and choice in cloud gaming was preserved."

Before making a decision on the deal, a consultation will be started.