Microsoft Azure: UK regulators approves Microsoft's acquisition of $68.7bn Activision Blizzard acquisition

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has finally approved Microsoft's proposed acquisition of famous video games publisher Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. 

This comes after an initial blockage of the deal over concerns relating to the impact of this acquisition on competition in the cloud game streaming space. However, the regulator reopened the investigation after the tech giant had a restructure. Microsoft revealed plans to sell Activision Blizzard's cloud gaming rights to rival games publisher Ubisoft as a cloud company or hardware manufacturer does not own it.

Microsoft president Brad Smith said that the deal "includes executing an agreement effective at the closing of our merger that transfers the cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years to Ubisoft Entertainment SA, a leading global game publisher. The rights will be in perpetuity."

CMA notes that its approval is subject to the condition that Microsoft completes the sale of Activision's cloud streaming rights first. CMA CEO Sarah Cardell said: "With the sale of Activision's cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft, we've made sure Microsoft can't have a stranglehold over this important and rapidly developing market."