Microsoft’s $68.7 Billion Takeover of Activision Blocked by U.K. Regulator

Naman Ramachandran Weeks after the U.K.’s Competition & Markets Authority blocked Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion deal to buy video games giant Activision Blizzard, the European Commission (EC) has granted approval under the EU Merger Regulation. However, the approval, which arrived after an EC investigation, comes with conditions that require Microsoft to fully comply with specific commitments that address the competition concerns raised. The preliminary investigation conducted by the EC revealed that Microsoft’s acquisition could potentially harm competition in two key areas: the distribution of console and PC video games, including multi-game subscription services and cloud game streaming services, as well as the supply of PC operating systems. It determined that Microsoft would not have the ability to harm rival consoles or multi-game subscription services. However, it concluded that Microsoft’s position in the distribution of games through cloud game streaming services would likely lead to a reduction in competition. Additionally, the acquisition would strengthen Microsoft’s position in the market for PC operating systems.

The EU’s antitrust regulator has gone against the grain of its U.S. and UK counterparts by waving through Microsoft’s proposed $69B takeover of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard.

Manchester United’s share price fell by 9.5 per cent on Thursday amid reports that Sir Jim Ratcliffe is the Glazers' preferred takeover bidder.

Two Manchester United legends appear to be able to see the positives in Sheikh Jassim's takeover of the Old Trafford outfit amid reports the Qatari could offer jobs at the club to former players.

Peaky Blinders has been referenced in the prospective takeover of Birmingham City Football Club.American financier Tom Wagner has agreed to buy a 45.64 per cent stake in Championship side.

Manchester United fans are no closer to discovering the future ownership of their club despite the third round bid deadline passing at the end of April.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Snap took the wraps off new advertising initiatives at its 2023 NewFronts presentation for marketers in New York — including revealing a new test of sponsored links in My AI, which can deliver ads based on a user’s conversation with the chatbot. The company, which averaged 383 million daily active users in Q1, last month announced the rollout of the artificial intelligence-powered My AI chatbot to all Snapchat users. While it’s still early days, Snap says My AI has the potential to deliver more relevant content and experiences across the app — and execs told NewFronts attendees the company is experimenting with sponsored links in My AI.

Manchester United bidders have until 10pm on Friday to submit their offers for the club.

Microsoft president Brad Smith has described yesterday (April 26) as the company’s “darkest day in our four decades in Britain,” after its proposed £55billion purchase of Activision Blizzard was blocked in the UK.Yesterday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that it was blocking Microsoft’s proposed acquisition, over concerns that ownership of Activision Blizzard‘s catalogue — which includes the likes of Call Of Duty, Overwatch and World Of Warcraft — would harm competition in the cloud gaming market.Speaking on the BBC‘s Wake Up To Money podcast (via GamesIndustry.biz), Brad Smith accused the decision of being “bad for Britain,” and claimed it will “discourage innovation and investment in the UK”.“Microsoft has been in the United Kingdom for 40 years and we play a vital role, not just supporting businesses and non-profits but even defending the nation from cyber-security threats,” said Smith. “But this decision, I have to say, is probably the darkest day in our four decades in Britain.

The third and final Manchester United takeover deadline is on Friday and updates about the process is again beginning to filter out in advance of it.

232.5 million subscribers globally as of the first quarter of 2023, including 77.37 million in its Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region. EMEA revenue declined 6% year over year to $2.5 billion during the quarter and average revenue per user for the region came in at $10.89.“It is hugely welcome to see Netflix significantly increase its investment in the UK, demonstrating the sheer strength of our TV and film industry as the largest in Europe.

Gene Maddaus Senior Media Writer The Walt Disney Co. on Wednesday filed a First Amendment lawsuit against Florida Gov.

$68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard after publishing its final findings on Wednesday.The regulator, which initially launched an in-depth review of the deal in September, provisionally determined in February that the merger could make the tech giant even stronger in cloud gaming, stifling market competition. In its final decision, the CMA determined that Microsoft would “find it commercially beneficial to make Activision’s games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service” and that the deal would “reinforce Microsoft’s advantage in the market by giving it control over important gaming content such as Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.”“Given its already strong position, even a moderate increment to Microsoft’s strength may be expected to substantially reduce competition in this developing market, to the detriment of current and future cloud gaming users,” the CMA said.

Microsoft’s $68.7BN deal for games giant Activision Blizzard has been blocked by regulators in the UK.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Global streaming giant Netflix has publicly committed to spending $2.5 billion (approx. KRW3.34 trillion) on South Korean film and TV production over the next four years. The total is double the amount it has spent in Korea since 2016, the company said. The promise was made by Ted Sarandos, co-CEO of Netflix, at a meeting in Washington DC with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. “We were able to make this decision because we have great confidence that the Korean creative industry will continue to tell great stories. We were also inspired by the President’s love and strong support for the Korean entertainment industry and fueling the Korean wave. I’d like to personally thank the President for his kind response letter,” Sarandos said in a statement.

The Glazer family have been handed a fresh warning about not selling Manchester United.

Home Town Takeover is back!

, the hosts tell ET all about how they work together as a married couple.«We're never apart,» Erin says, with Ben adding, «We totally get that not everybody functions that way, but we do, and it's the only way we can.»Ben and Erin met when they were 21 and 19, respectively, and the latter explains, «We've formed our adult identities around each other.»«This is the only way we know how to be grownups,» Erin says, with Ben noting that he and his wife «are absolutely the same person.»«It's a well-oiled machine, absolutely,» he says of their life together. «We apply [that] to everything in our lives, our spiritual life, our parenting life, our work life, our relationship life.»After 20 million viewers tuned in to season 1 of , Ben and Erin took some time off to welcome their second daughter, Mae, who will turn 2 next month.

Activision Blizzard have accused the company of losing workers and “creating crisis maps” of what it can release, due to issues with the company’s remote working policy.In a series of tweets posted yesterday, World Of Warcraft game producer Adam ‘Glaxigrav’ claimed he has lost “yet another” employee this week.“Blizzard is losing amazing talent because someone in power doesn’t listen to the game directors who make his products,” wrote Adam, who said Blizzard can’t “make better Dragonflights […] If we get rid of everyone who made it”.“‘Some talent’ is undermining the point,” he continued. “We are creating crisis maps of what we can or cannot ship.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief The battle for corporate dominance of K-Pop has become a drama that never stops giving. After the acrimonious takeover battle between BTS-backer Hybe Corp. and tech giant Kakao for control of SM Entertainment, Korea’s financial regulators are probing the deal-making that eventually led to Kakao’s victory. Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service raided the offices of SM Entertainment on Tuesday, according to the Yonhap news agency. Investigators were looking for evidence of stock price manipulation between February and March when the two camps were skirmishing.