The UK's competition watchdog has indicated that Microsoft's modified proposal to acquire Activision Blizzard could pave the way for the transaction to be approved.
The CMA indicated that the revised arrangement seemed to tackle the worries it previously expressed.
Microsoft will not be acquiring the cloud gaming licenses held by Activision Blizzard pursuant to the new proposals.
The proposed agreement valued at $69bn (£59bn) was rejected by UK regulators.
Earlier in 2020, the CMA hindered Microsoft from acquiring Activision as a whole due to worries that the agreement would negatively influence competition within cloud gaming in the United Kingdom.
In last month, Microsoft put forth a new version of the deal for review by the antitrust authority.
On Friday, Sarah Cardell, the CEO of the CMA, declared: "It is essential that the merger does not threaten competition, innovation, and choice in the cloud gaming market, a stance which the CMA has upheld since the outset."
A consultation will be conducted prior to making a definitive decision on the deal.
Microsoft's announcement of their intent to acquire Activision Blizzard, their biggest gaming industry deal to date, took place in January of last year.
This has been met with a diverse set of reactions from regulatory authorities around the world, with many commentators finding the measure to be questionable.
In May, regulators in the European Union approved the deal, while the US competition watchdog's request to halt the transaction was denied by an appeals court.
In April, when the agreement was first stopped in the UK, it was seen as a setback for the government, which aspires for the country to become a technology giant.
Ms Cardell from the CMA stated that it would have been more beneficial if Microsoft had proposed the reorganization during the initial probe.
This case serves to demonstrate the expenses, doubt and postponement involved if a dependable and usable solution is possible but isn't presented during the initial stages.
Sony initially opposed the agreement, worried that Microsoft could obstruct the release of major games to its own PlayStation division.
Microsoft has consented to provide Ubisoft with the licensing rights to stream Activision's games from the cloud for a period of 15 years, as part of a new agreement.
Ubisoft's acquisition of a portion of Activision's business will preclude Microsoft from gaining control of cloud streaming titles such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.
The CMA declared that with extra safeguards in place, gamers will be presented with various options for accessing Activision's games, such as cloud-based multi-game subscription services.
The statement went on to express that, while there were still some hesitations, the amended agreement constituted "something else entirely, one which will ensure that the web-based delivery of such prominent titles is managed by a powerful and autonomous vendor, namely Ubisoft, and not by Microsoft".
Microsoft is hoping that the merger will lead to an increase in demand for their Xbox console and gaming subscription plan.
Brad Smith, its vice chairman and president, expressed encouraged at this positive step.
We proposed remedies that we think completely satisfy the CMA's remaining worries about streaming of video games in the cloud, and we will carry on attempting to get permission to finalize prior to the 18th of October timing.
Microsoft desires that the CMA will reach a concluding verdict on the altered proposal by the end of next month - after the inquiry terminates on the 6th of October. For the arrangement to be successful globally, its endorsement is imperative.
Activision expressed joy at the preliminary approval, expressing it as favorable for their continued relationship with Microsoft.
"We anticipate collaborating with Microsoft to finish the regulatory review process," the statement continued.
コメント