The UK CMA aren't expected to make their final (final, final?) decision until 18 October and I think there are still three more countries yet to provide a ruling. It's not impossible, but this isn't looking likely.
Activision said:
Perhaps indeed! Maybe their social media guy didn't get the memo!A little of both perhaps.
I believe they will be. If I understand the deal correctly, in many ways Activision will be a separate company that Microsoft owns and controls. This is also how Bethesda is, which is why many press events are branded as "Xbox+Bethesda" and not just Xbox. This is how it works on paper, anyway. IIRC how it worked with Zenimax was that the board of directors was dissolved and Microsoft basically replaced their role. So instead of the board of directors/Zenimax telling Bethesda they had to do something, Microsoft does via it's chain of command.
Good point, as you say like Bethesda and the Sony/Bungie arrange. And this may be a necessary approach in order for Microsoft to delver the separation that they've committed to the UK CMA.
Studios retaining their own creative identity is fine, it was the dissonance that Activision would work with Xbox. It will be interesting to see how far this separation goes, but if they report to Phil Spencer, they're part of Xbox.
www.cnbc.com
Fixed
I trust the cynics accept that it was never about making excuses to block the deal at all costs on some ideology, and the CMA was genuinely operating in good faith on what it felt an important emergent market that needed protecting as per their remit.Microsoft concession a gamechanger that will promote competition
The new deal for Microsoft to buy Activision without cloud gaming rights has been cleared after the CMA concluded it would preserve competitive prices and better services.www.gov.uk
Finally some good games!
