Microsoft submits fresh Activision deal to UK regulators

Receive free Microsoft Corp updates

We’ll send you a myFT Daily Digest email rounding up the latest Microsoft Corp news every morning.

Microsoft has submitted a new version of its $75bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard to the UK’s competition regulator after the previous deal was blocked over concerns it would stifle innovation in the cloud gaming market.

On Tuesday, the Competition and Markets Authority announced a final order that prevents the original deal from being completed.

Instead, the two companies have proposed a new merger agreement, under which Activision’s cloud streaming rights outside the European Economic Area will be sold to Ubisoft, a France-based gaming rival.

“This is not a green light. We will carefully and objectively assess the details of the restructured deal and its impact on competition,” CMA chief executive Sarah Cardell said in a statement.

“Our goal has not changed — any future decision on this new deal will ensure that the growing cloud gaming market continues to benefit from open and effective competition driving innovation and choice,” she added.

This is a developing story