UK Regulatory Authority Gives Preliminary Approval to Activision Blizzard-Microsoft Merger

UK Regulatory Authority Gives Preliminary Approval to Activision Blizzard-Microsoft Merger

In a significant development for the gaming industry, the UK regulatory authority, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), has issued preliminary approval for the merger between Activision Blizzard and Microsoft. The announcement was made by Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick in an internal email to employees.

Kotick called the CMA's preliminary approval "critical" to the completion of the merger and said it was a "significant milestone." The next step in the regulatory process is for the CMA to gather third-party feedback before making a final decision on the deal.

In the email, Kotick reiterated the merger's potential benefits, stating that it would "accelerate our ambitions for the future of gaming and enable us to better serve our players." He expressed confidence that Microsoft's "resources, technology, and tools" would provide Activision Blizzard "even greater opportunities to create even better games."

This update comes as good news for both companies, who have been in a solutions-oriented dialogue with regulators to ensure the merger's completion. Kotick ended the email on an optimistic note, praising the dedication of employees during this transitional period and promising to keep them updated as the process continues.

The preliminary approval by the UK regulatory authority marks an important step for the high-profile merger, which has been closely watched by industry stakeholders. Should the CMA give its final nod, it would be a major win for both companies, potentially reshaping the landscape of the gaming industry.

Source: Activision Blizzard