New Microsoft-Activision deal under UK investigation as cloud gaming rights sold to Ubisoft
At a glance
Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been restructured and is once again under investigation – and Ubisoft is now embroiled in the biggest deal in industry history.
Both Microsoft and the Competition and Markets Authority – the UK regulator that blocked the deal earlier this year – announced this morning that a new deal has been submitted for the latter's consideration.
The deal is designed to address the CMA's concerns about Microsoft's dominance in cloud gaming by removing this aspect entirely. Instead, the cloud gaming rights have been divested to an independent third party: Ubisoft.
The Assassin's Creed publisher has been given cloud streaming rights for all current and new Activision Blizzard games released for PC and console, including any releases over the next 15 years.
Ubisoft will be able to commericalise and licence the cloud gaming versions of any of these titles, adding them to any other cloud gaming services around the world, including ones operating on non-Windows operating systems.
Microsoft will take a one-off payment from Ubisoft for these rights, as well as further compensation "through a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism, including an option that supports pricing based on usage."
In a blog post, Microsoft president Brad Smith said: "Under the restructured transaction, Microsoft will not be in a position either to release Activision Blizzard games exclusively on its own cloud streaming service – Xbox Cloud Gaming – or to exclusively control the licensing terms of Activision Blizzard games for rival services."
Smith added that the agreement with Ubisoft has been structured so that, after the acquisition is complete, Microsoft will still acquire the
Read more on gamesindustry.biz
