EU Antitrust Regulators To Approve Microsoft's $69B Activision Acquisition Later This Month: Report

Microsoft Corp.'s (NASDAQ: MSFT) proposed $68.7-billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) is set to receive approval from EU antitrust regulators next week, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters.

Insiders told Reuters the green light for the deal will likely be announced May 15, although the European Commission's deadline is set for May 22, the report said. 

This news comes almost three weeks after the Competition and Markets Authority, the British regulatory body, cited concerns the deal would have a negative impact on the fast-growing cloud gaming market, stating Microsoft had not addressed these concerns effectively.

“Microsoft has a strong position in cloud gaming services and the evidence available to the CMA showed that Microsoft would find it commercially beneficial to make Activision’s games exclusive to its own cloud gaming service,” the CMA said in an April 26 press release. 

In March, Microsoft reached licensing agreements with a number of cloud streaming rivals, including Nvidia Corp. (NASDAQ: NVDA), Boosteroid and Ubitus. Microsoft has also secured an agreement with Nintendo Co., Ltd (OTC: NTDOY) to bring Activision's popular game Call of Duty to its platforms in the event of the acquisition being completed.

See Also: Microsoft/Activision Deal Questioned By UK's CMA Over Potential Price Increase For Xbox Game Pass

These deals are reportedly a factor in the EU antitrust enforcer's decision to approve the acquisition.

Image credits: Anton Vierietin and FellowNeko on Shutterstock.