Microsoft Now Considered More Likely to Successfully Complete Activision Blizzard Acquisition
gamerant.comMicrosoft is now closer than ever to completing its landmark acquisition of Activision Blizzard and its many studios and IP, at least according to financial insiders. This massive buyout was one of the biggest gaming stories to come out over the past couple of years, as it means that major franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch would be brought into Microsoft’s Xbox umbrella should the deal successfully clear. This planned buyout follows Xbox’s purchase of Bethesda’s parent company ZeniMax Media – and with it ownership of franchises like Elder Scrolls and Fallout – in 2020.
Not everyone has been on board with the idea of Microsoft acquiring yet another mega-publisher in the form of Activision Blizzard, and there have been several challenges to the deal by competitors and government bodies alike. The loudest opposition to the buyout has been Sony, who claims that the Activision Blizzard buyout would cost PlayStation access to the highly lucrative Call of Duty franchise if it carries through. Microsoft has argued that this won’t be the case, and several smaller game studios have voiced their support for the deal.
RELATED:Game Studios Speak Out in Support of Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard Deal
In light of the UK's Competition and Markets Authority’s recent findings regarding Microsoft’s planned purchase of Activision Blizzard, experts are saying that the chances of the deal closing soon are higher than ever. Citi recently raised the probability of Microsoft completing its purchase of Activision Blizzard from 50% to 70%, as noted by analyst Jason Bazinet (via Seeking Alpha). Citi also raised Activision’s stock price target from $88 to $91 to reflect this increased likelihood, which Bazinet explained as
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