GadgetBond

  • Latest
  • How-to
  • Tech
    • AI
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • CES
    • Computing
    • Creators
    • Google
    • Meta
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Samsung
    • Security
    • Xbox
  • Transportation
    • Audi
    • BMW
    • Cadillac
    • E-Bike
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
    • Honda Prelude
    • Lamborghini
    • McLaren W1
    • Mercedes
    • Porsche
    • Rivian
    • Tesla
  • Culture
    • Apple TV
    • Disney
    • Gaming
    • Hulu
    • Marvel
    • HBO Max
    • Netflix
    • Paramount
    • SHOWTIME
    • Star Wars
    • Streaming
Add GadgetBond as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google.
Font ResizerAa
GadgetBondGadgetBond
  • Latest
  • Tech
  • AI
  • Deals
  • How-to
  • Apps
  • Mobile
  • Gaming
  • Streaming
  • Transportation
Search
  • Latest
  • Deals
  • How-to
  • Tech
    • Amazon
    • Apple
    • CES
    • Computing
    • Creators
    • Google
    • Meta
    • Microsoft
    • Mobile
    • Samsung
    • Security
    • Xbox
  • AI
    • Anthropic
    • ChatGPT
    • ChatGPT Atlas
    • Gemini AI (formerly Bard)
    • Google DeepMind
    • Grok AI
    • Meta AI
    • Microsoft Copilot
    • OpenAI
    • Perplexity
    • xAI
  • Transportation
    • Audi
    • BMW
    • Cadillac
    • E-Bike
    • Ferrari
    • Ford
    • Honda Prelude
    • Lamborghini
    • McLaren W1
    • Mercedes
    • Porsche
    • Rivian
    • Tesla
  • Culture
    • Apple TV
    • Disney
    • Gaming
    • Hulu
    • Marvel
    • HBO Max
    • Netflix
    • Paramount
    • SHOWTIME
    • Star Wars
    • Streaming
Follow US
MicrosoftTechXbox

Microsoft successfully closes $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard deal

By
Shubham Sawarkar
Shubham Sawarkar's avatar
ByShubham Sawarkar
Editor-in-Chief
I’m a tech enthusiast who loves exploring gadgets, trends, and innovations. With certifications in CISCO Routing & Switching and Windows Server Administration, I bring a sharp...
Follow:
- Editor-in-Chief
Oct 16, 2023, 9:54 AM EDT
Share
We may get a commission from retail offers. Learn more
The unexpected twist in Microsoft's Activision acquisition as cloud gaming rights transition to Ubisoft
Image: Activision Blizzard
SHARE

In a long-anticipated move, Microsoft has successfully sealed the deal on its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. After more than a year and a half of navigating regulatory hurdles, the tech giant announced the completion of this landmark transaction on Friday.

This acquisition represents a significant milestone for Microsoft, as it stands as the company’s largest-ever purchase. With the ink now dry, Microsoft gains access to a treasure trove of popular video game franchises from Activision, including the iconic Call of Duty series, which is poised to bolster its Xbox gaming business. Additionally, Microsoft now has a strategic foothold in the mobile gaming sector, thanks to Activision’s mobile titles like World of Warcraft. This expansion into mobile gaming is particularly noteworthy, given Microsoft’s historical struggle to establish a strong presence in this arena.

However, it wasn’t a smooth road to finalizing the acquisition. Microsoft faced intense scrutiny from antitrust regulators in multiple regions, including Europe, the UK, and the United States. To appease these regulators and ensure the deal’s approval, Microsoft had to make certain concessions. Notably, the company agreed to cede the cloud streaming rights for Activision’s games to Ubisoft for the next 15 years, preventing Microsoft from making Activision’s games exclusive to the Xbox during this period.

This move seemed to have satisfied the UK’s antitrust regulator, which granted approval for the deal this month after initially rejecting it. Meanwhile, in the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had sued to block the acquisition but lost in a federal trial that aimed to halt the transaction back in July. The FTC now faces an uphill battle in its efforts to undo the deal, as it pursues appeals in light of the recent court decision.


Discover more from GadgetBond

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Leave a Comment

Leave a ReplyCancel reply

Most Popular

Perplexity Computer now works natively in Microsoft’s core productivity apps

iOS 26.6 warns you when your blocked list is full

Perplexity open-sources its blazing-fast Unigram tokenizer

Anthropic’s security-guidance plugin makes Claude Code less reckless

Claude Code now orchestrates its own dynamic workflows

Also Read
Anthropic

Anthropic raises $65 billion, nears trillion-dollar status

Split-panel graphic featuring a torn sheet of grid paper with black hand-drawn scribbles on a light blue background on the left, and a minimalist illustration of an open hand holding a connected node network symbol on a terracotta-orange background on the right, representing creativity, ideas, and collaborative intelligence.

Claude Opus 4.8 launches with sharper judgment and new controls

Four smartphone mockups displaying the Google Health app interface, showcasing fitness tracking, workout suggestions, sleep analysis, and health metrics dashboards with colorful cards, charts, and wellness data on a light blue background.

Google Health app puts all your wellness data in one place

Alexa Plus logo. Amazon's revamp AI-powered smart assistant for its devices.

Amazon’s Alexa+ rolls out in France with a more “French” personality

Close-up of a smartphone displaying a WhatsApp Meta AI incognito chat screen with a privacy message reading “Only you can see this chat,” alongside a user message asking for help preparing for a tough conversation, against an orange and yellow background.

WhatsApp adds Incognito Mode for Meta AI

Instagram Instants

How to use Instagram Instants for quick, unedited sharing

Dark interior view of the Ferrari Luce electric vehicle featuring a black leather cabin, Ferrari-branded steering wheel, digital instrument cluster, center touchscreen display, and minimalist dashboard design illuminated in low light.

Samsung Display gives Ferrari Luce a multi-layered OLED dash

Light blue Ferrari Luce electric sports car parked outside a modern architectural building, showing the sleek front three-quarter exterior design with black roof accents and large alloy wheels.

Four doors, five seats, full electric: Ferrari Luce arrives

Company Info
  • Homepage
  • Support my work
  • Latest stories
  • Company updates
  • GDB Recommends
  • Daily newsletters
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Write for us
  • Editorial guidelines
Legal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Policy
  • Security Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
Socials
Follow US

Disclosure: We love the products we feature and hope you’ll love them too. If you purchase through a link on our site, we may receive compensation at no additional cost to you. Read our ethics statement. Please note that pricing and availability are subject to change.

Copyright © 2026 GadgetBond. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information.