London –
Microsoft and UK regulators win more time in court on Monday as the US tech company uses a rare second chance to overcome opposition to its US$69 billion bid for video game maker Activision Blizzard. bottom.
The judge conditionally approved the companies’ joint request to stay an appeal initiated by Microsoft after the watchdog group initially rejected the deal. The regulator has since postponed a final decision, allowing it to consider Microsoft’s claim that the new development must go through with its acquisition of blockbuster game maker Call of Duty.
The merger has already received approval in the European Union and many other countries, but faces opposition from antitrust regulators in the UK and the US.
The UK blocked the deal over fears it would stifle competition in the small but fast-growing cloud gaming market.
But the UK’s position appears to be softening. The watchdog said last week it would give it an additional six weeks to consider Microsoft’s proposal outlining new developments and “special reasons” for approving the deal.
Both sides said they were seeking a stay in the Competition Appeals Court after a U.S. court blocked the Federal Trade Commission’s efforts to block the deal.
Judge Marcus Smith has indicated that he intends to review the “controversial application” to stay the appeal following the denial of an earlier claim.
Smith said he wanted assurances from the Office of Competition and Markets that the FTC’s failure to block the deal served no reason to request a delay to give Microsoft another chance. .
In another sign that merger momentum is building, Microsoft on Sunday signed a 10-year deal with Sony to continue the popular Call of Duty video game series on PlayStation consoles if the merger goes through. It was announced that he had tied up with
Activision’s Call of Duty series of games has sparked an acquisition dispute. Sony has fiercely resisted a deal with Microsoft to build the Xbox console, fearing it will lose access to Call of Duty.
As Microsoft tries to convince regulators around the world, it has struck tentative deals with Nintendo and some cloud gaming providers to license Activision titles like Call of Duty. Sony has endured until now.
