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Microsoft looks to close Activision deal next week – The Verge

Attendees stand next to signage for Activision Blizzard Inc. Call Of Duty: Black Ops 4 video game during the E3 Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, California, U.S., on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. For three days, leading-edge companies, groundbreaking new technologies and never-before-seen products is showcased at E3. Photographer: Troy Harvey/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Microsoft (MSFT.O) is aiming to close its $69 billion deal for “Call of Duty” publisher Activision Blizzard (ATVI.O) on Oct. 13 if it gets approval from Britain’s antitrust regulator, the Verge reported on Friday, citing a source.

The Xbox maker had in July extended the cutoff date for the deal to Oct. 18 to get more time to secure approval from the UK.

Microsoft won preliminary approval from the Competition and Markets Authority last month after Activision agreed to sell its streaming rights to Ubisoft Entertainment (UBIP.PA).

If successful the purchase would mark the biggest deal in the gaming industry, bringing together Microsoft’s heft in the console market with Activision’s titles including “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft”.