Will Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard?

Today, Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. (Nasdaq: ATVI), a leader in game development and interactive entertainment content publisher. This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse.

When will Microsoft & Activision merge?

Originally slated to close by July 18, Microsoft and Activision have extended the merger agreement to Oct. 18, 2023, in order to allow for the last regulatory approvals to be granted. Every time I write a new story providing some update on this saga, it feels like I'm saying some variation of "we're closer, we're still not there yet."

Is Activision still a done deal?

And just like that, the drama seemed to evaporate. While Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision still isn’t a completely done deal, the decision by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley to side with Microsoft and not the FTC means that the odds now feel stacked in the Xbox maker’s favor (pending a possible appeal, of course).

How will Microsoft's acquisition impact the gaming industry?

This acquisition will ultimately benefit the gaming industry and gamers and we will continue to work toward closing the deal. Microsoft primarily saw opposition from the FTC in the U.S. and the CMA in the U.K, with the former regulatory body suing to stop the purchase and the latter formally blocking it.