CK Hutchison Launches Arbitration After Panama Court Revokes Canal Port Licences 
Global PC Makers Eye Chinese Memory Chip Suppliers Amid Ongoing Supply Crunch 
Bank of Japan Signals Readiness for Near-Term Rate Hike as Inflation Nears Target 
Gold and Silver Prices Slide as Dollar Strength and Easing Tensions Weigh on Metals 
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns 
Uber Ordered to Pay $8.5 Million in Bellwether Sexual Assault Lawsuit 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
Dollar Near Two-Week High as Stock Rout, AI Concerns and Global Events Drive Market Volatility 
Baidu Approves $5 Billion Share Buyback and Plans First-Ever Dividend in 2026 
Ford and Geely Explore Strategic Manufacturing Partnership in Europe 
U.S. Stock Futures Slide as Tech Rout Deepens on Amazon Capex Shock 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
Dollar Steadies Ahead of ECB and BoE Decisions as Markets Turn Risk-Off 
Oil Prices Slide on US-Iran Talks, Dollar Strength and Profit-Taking Pressure 
Silver Prices Plunge in Asian Trade as Dollar Strength Triggers Fresh Precious Metals Sell-Off 
Nasdaq Proposes Fast-Track Rule to Accelerate Index Inclusion for Major New Listings 
Washington Post Publisher Will Lewis Steps Down After Layoffs 
In a pivotal move aimed at appeasing competition concerns, Microsoft Corporation and Sony Group Corporation have secured a deal ensuring Activision Blizzard's popular "Call of Duty" remains on PlayStation, even as Microsoft's proposed $69 billion merger with the video game giant nears completion.
Microsoft and Sony's deal will ensure that the popular "Call of Duty" will remain playable on the latter's PlayStation gaming console. The agreement comes as the former is closer to sealing its $69 billion merger agreement with Activision Blizzard.
As per CNN Business, the contract may also stand as a resolution to persistent complaints by Sony that says the merger is a threat to competition in the video gaming industry. This is because the merger is set to make Microsoft the third-largest video game publisher in the world.
The arrangement was also confirmed by the head of Microsoft's Xbox, Phil Spencer, on Sunday, July 16. Via tweet, the executive stated, "We are pleased to announce that Microsoft and @PlayStation have signed a binding agreement to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation following the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. We look forward to a future where players globally have more choices to play their favorite games."
Before the deal, it was noted that Sony had been one of the leading critics of the Microsoft and Activision Blizzard acquisition agreement. It said many issues could arise if the merger proceeds; one example is the possibility of "Call of Duty" being pulled out from other companies. Still, the companies' latest deal has already resolved this issue.
Then again, CNBC reported that Microsoft and Sony did not disclose the agreed duration of their agreement, but the former's spokesperson said the signed contract is long-term. While the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard seems to be going smoothly, it is not yet fully certain if the companies can close the deal.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) can still appeal to block the acquisition. Still, Microsoft and Activision hope to finally complete the transaction by July. 18.
Photo by: Fábio Magalhães/Unsplash
