Microsoft Merger with Activision Blizzard Deadline Extended to October 18th

Blizzard Posted 2023/07/19 at 11:51 AM by Archimtiros

defeating the Federal Trade Commission in courtMicrosoft President Brad SmithActivision CCO Lulu Cheng Meservey on TwitterActivision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick

Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick

Team,

I know many of you have questions about our merger with Microsoft. I am happy to share that based on our continued confidence in closing our deal, the Activision Blizzard and Microsoft boards have mutually agreed not to terminate the deal until after October 18.

This merger is great for players, workers, and our business, and it will create opportunities to compete against companies with large talent pools, strong IP and complete control of their markets. Our merger is cleared to close in over 40 countries already, and we remain confident in resolving any remaining regulatory concerns in the UK.

I appreciate your patience through the process. As always, thank you for your continued dedication and work. I’ll share more updates as we have them.

With gratitude,

Bobby

termination clause

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer

Team,

Microsoft and Activision Blizzard remain optimistic that we will get our acquisition over the finish line, so we have jointly agreed to extend the merger agreement to October 18, 2023. While we can technically close in the United States due to recent legal developments, this extension gives us additional time to resolve the remaining regulatory concerns in the UK.

I want to thank everyone for your time and energy in support of the regulatory process and on all the great work coming to fruition for Xbox this year. Players around the world will be delighted with the incredible lineup of games launching in the next few months, including Starfield and Forza Motorsport. It is also great to see the fantastic work the ABK teams are delivering for their players with the successful launch of Diablo IV and the ongoing performance of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, and we congratulate them on their accomplishments.

As we move even closer to the finish line, we are more excited than ever before about furthering our mission to bring more games to more players everywhere.

Phil

Comment by GreyGoombaSo weird to see the finish line in sight after how long this has gone back and forth.
Still curious to see what this actually impacts for us as fans, though.Comment by Optimus13Wow subscription in PC/Ultimate gamepass pls
CopiumComment by Vondruk21Put all blizzard games on the Game Pass, including WoW, and watch the subscription to it sky rocket it (yes it's my hail mary dream haha)Comment by philipje1Lol, there he is... Bobby Kotick.Comment by greeneggSo weird to see the finish line in sight after how long this has gone back and forth.
Still curious to see what this actually impacts for us as fans, though.Comment by kajitheninjashould start coming up with merger names, something like Blizzionsoft because saying Microsoft's Activision Blizzard is a mouthfulComment by MattariasWhatever gets rid of the skeezy execs faster. Ugh.

Ideally Blizz splits off by itself again, but alas...Comment by magus104Really hopefully wow subscription doesnt get bundled with gamepass in the future. I know right now its one of the few things keeping them going but honestly it being part of gamepass might bring a lot of people (losers) like myself back to the game. I can justify a gamepass subscription because of how much it has to offer but a wow subscription? nah shadowlands taught me this games no longer worth 15 a month. No amount of damage control in DF will change my mind after SL. But if I just had gametime because I had a gamepass sub? Damn well guess I have no reason not to add myself back to padding their MAUs for their shareholdersComment by Setsuna665so we only have a little bit longer to make the small indie company jokes. :( i really hope wow gets bundled into game pass. it would allow some friends i have the option to play wow who wouldnt because they dont want another subComment by LostelfThe sooner I can uninstall Battle.net the better. One of the worst launchers I've ever had to use lmao. I still can't DM people almost 4 years after I first encountered the bug.Comment by OrissanWhatever gets rid of the skeezy execs faster. Ugh.

Ideally Blizz splits off by itself again, but alas...Comment by Sayosin99The sooner I can uninstall Battle.net the better. One of the worst launchers I've ever had to use lmao. I still can't DM people almost 4 years after I first encountered the bug.Comment by KHLARGwow f2p inc.Comment by Toffi23should start coming up with merger names, something like Blizzionsoft because saying Microsoft's Activision Blizzard is a mouthfulComment by LethalChicken. Wow subscription in PC/Ultimate gamepass pls
CopiumComment by gh0sth4ndwow f2p inc.Comment by lovelywazEvery single company when making moves like this: "It will be great for the consumers".
In harsh reality of corporate money making world: Unless company itself benefits the most, they aren't dumb enough to do it.Comment by Gesika6I've always liked Microsoft games, so I have high hopes. Activision sucks and needs to rot.Comment by PandaabearThe sooner I can uninstall Battle.net the better. One of the worst launchers I've ever had to use lmao. I still can't DM people almost 4 years after I first encountered the bug.Comment by tupolew519No way