Xbox and Activision may pull games out of UK to close acquisition deals
Xbox and Activision are engaging in another month-long battle over closing an acquisition deal, exploring all possibilities to do so.
While Xbox and Activision’s journey towards closing their deal has had its share of bumps along the way, both parties remain determined with its completion in view if they can overcome UK opposition to it. According to UK competition regulator the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which contends it would hurt competition within cloud gaming services market if approved; any UK objection could prove devastating; there have been reports that Xbox/Activision are planning drastic actions such as pulling games off UK shelves to ensure agreement.
PostUp_SOG shared some of the ongoing conversations behind-the-scenes via their Twitter post, with one option listed being, “Activision considering leaving UK to another European nation to avoid CMA jurisdiction; its games could continue being sold via distributor”.
This would require Activision Blizzard to leave the UK market entirely as an official distributer, leaving gamers there unable to purchase its games through official first-party means. Although alarming, such action are indicative of Activision’s determination and dedication towards seeing through this deal no matter the cost for Microsoft; another possible option could include closing regardless of UK veto and entering legal battle with CMA which could prove costly in damages for both parties involved.
Xbox fans remain confident that Activision games won’t leave the UK, believing gamers will get what they want from this deal in terms of game availability and price. One fan said, “They’ll close with UK customer base involved,” while another commented, “CMA doesn’t have much power without courts allowing it; judge Smith will likely allow this deal at some point during August or earlier if allowed by him”. One person also wrote in, saying MS has nothing but loyalty for Sony fans as MS will always win out over time: they wrote one fan wrote that, sorry Sony [fans], MS will always get what it wants!” One fan wrote, “Sorry Sony [fans], MS always wins when wanting something. One fan wrote simply, “Sorry Sony fans – MS gets it, period.”
Again this month has brought progress for Xbox and Activision Blizzard to make their partnership official, although progress seems slow at best. Once finalized, however, this deal would prove hugely lucrative for Xbox, with hundreds of Activision Blizzard titles making their way onto Xbox Game Pass and opening up more exclusives down the line – something Xbox recently achieved with Bethesda acquisition and Starfield set for release later in 2015.
