Microsoft's deal to buy Activision will still take place

Microsoft Corp. It is getting one step closer to approving a deal to acquire game developer Activision Blizzard after changing its terms.

Microsoft submitted an updated proposal to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in August, which, according to the CMA, solves previously encountered competition problems. However, a final decision has yet to be made after additional consultations, which will end on October 6.

Earlier, the CMA expressed concerns about the impact of the deal on competitiveness in the field of cloud gaming in the UK. However, Microsoft made adjustments by offering to sell the rights to Activision cloud games to the French giant Ubisoft Entertainment. 

«The Management is confident that the proposed adjustments eliminate most of the risks identified earlier,» the CMA said in a statement. 

Activision Blizzard is the developer of such well-known series of games for consoles and computers as Call of Duty, Diablo and World of Warcraft, as well as Candy Crush for mobile devices. Microsoft announced its intention to buy Activision for $69 billion in January 2022. In May 2023, this deal was approved by the European Commission.