Microsoft Is Promoting Merger With Full-Page Ad In UK Newspapers

The Activision Blizzard merger deal has been going on for a while, and Microsoft aimed to close the deal by June-2023. There has been so much going on with this deal, as many are against this merger. First, the FTC sued Microsoft, and now it seems Jim Ryan wants to block the merger. 

Despite all these hurdles, Microsoft isn’t backing up as it is now promoting the Activision Blizzard deal plans in UK newspapers by running full-page ads. The company has claimed that it will be able to bring the Call of Duty franchise to 150 million more players worldwide, which would be an outstanding achievement.

But to achieve this milestone, the deal has to be successful. The Verge reporter Tom Warren spotted this ad, which has appeared in the Financial Times and Daily Mail. As soon as the deal is approved, Microsft wants to bring COD to as many players as possible.

Microsoft has placed a full-page ad in two newspapers in the UK today for its Activision Blizzard deal. "Call of Duty for 150 million more players," argues Microsoft as it pushes for its deal to be approved by UK regulators https://t.co/An7Lo465UK pic.twitter.com/PkayLYfEh8

— Tom Warren (@tomwarren) March 8, 2023

The 150 million number comes from Nintendo (125 million) and GeForce Now’s (25 million) users. According to CMA, Microsoft achieving the deal could reduce competition, resulting in higher prices, less innovation, and fewer choices for players. So, the best way to avoid this would be to block the merger completely.

However, CMA has also considered Microsoft’s commitment to bring Call of Duty on other platforms if the merger happens, so we can’t determine what will happen in the final decision.

Sony also doesn’t want this merger to happen, as it argued that

“There are myriad ways Microsoft could withhold or degrade access [which] would be extremely difficult to monitor and police.”

Microsoft has offered Sony a 10-year contract to make Call of Duty available on PlayStation the same day it is on Xbox. Phill also said that there would be no exclusive content for Xbox.

But it seems like, according to the COO of Activision, Jim Ryan, doesn’t want a deal. He wants to block the merger. She also said that Sony wasn’t even considering a sale. For now, it isn’t clear what the outcome of the agreement will be, but on April 26th, the final decision will be made.

Aside from that, what do you think of Microsoft revealing its plan after the merger? Are you in favor of the merger? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section.