"Microsoft's Brad Smith Acknowledges CMA's Rigorous Fairness in Activision Acquisition"

Microsoft President Brad Smith has revised his stance on the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), now calling it "tough and fair" in its handling of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Initially critical of the CMA's intervention, Smith acknowledges the regulatory body pushed Microsoft to modify its deal, particularly concerning cloud gaming rights. The acquisition, which faced over a year of regulatory scrutiny, was completed last October, significantly expanding Microsoft's gaming portfolio with franchises like Call of Duty and the addition of Candy Crush maker King.