Microsoft Corp. and Activision Blizzard Inc. are considering giving up some control of their cloud-gaming business in the UK as a way to appease regulators so they can complete their $69 billion merger by the July 18 deadline, according to people familiar with the matter.
That could involve selling off the cloud-based market rights for games in the UK to a telecommunications, gaming or internet-based computing company, said the people, who asked not to be named discussing confidential planning. A private equity company might also be interested, said one person.
Both companies still think it's possible to close the deal, which would be the largest ever in the video-game industry, before next week's deadline, the people said. They got a step closer on Tuesday, when a US judge declined the Federal Trade Commission's request to pause the deal.
Microsoft (MSFT), Activision Weigh Some UK Cloud Rights Sale for Deal Approval - Bloomberg
