Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Deal Could Be In Serious Trouble
We knew this deal would take some time to process, but we didn't know it'd be quite so public. The ongoing attempts by Xbox to purchase the game dev giant that is Activision Blizzard is something with a lot of promise.
Still, it's a slog to watch unfold. The legal side of it all needs to be entirely considered, and concerns that Xbox corners the gaming industry into monopolisation are perfectly reasonable - but with PlayStation trying to push back at every turn, it has slowed down the process.
Even the UK itself has got involved to add a speedbump, but now, there's a new roadblock in the way that could scupper the deal as we know it.
What's Going On With The Activision Blizzard Purchase?
Click to enlargeA brand-new schedule published by the FTC has revealed that the target month for completing the Xbox and Activision Blizzard deal could be missed.
The FTC's full scheduling order confirms that - providing new setbacks don't appear along the way - the final hearings about the case won't come around until August 2. This is a blow to Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick's initial hopes that the deal would complete by June 2023.
It's a frustrating update, but this is one of those checks that the deal simply can't do without, and it's a new reality that the company will have to deal with.
Will The Activision Blizzard Deal Actually Go Through?
As more and more obstacles stand between Xbox and the full purchase of Activision Blizzard, some fans are wondering if we'll actually see it come to fruition. And, frankly, there is a chance it could still fail.
Even though Xbox has put a lot into the deal, PlayStation's interference, a new report indicating that Google doesn't want it to go through, and the FTC's ruling could entirely change the future of the company. Any of these could mean the new ownership of Activision Blizzard could simply fall through.
It remains to be seen, and though it isn't going particularly smoothly, the deal is still on track to finalise by the end of the year. We'll just have to wait and see what happens, even if we'd rather it quietly finished soon. Come on, let's just stop the bickering and decide one way or the other.
