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Microsoft transferred the non-EEA cloud-streaming rights for Activision Blizzard’s current PC and console games, plus covered releases for the next 15 years, to Ubisoft. Ubisoft announced that the rights transaction completed on October 13, 2023, the same day Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Ubisoft did not acquire Activision Blizzard, its studios or ownership of the games themselves.
What Microsoft transferred to Ubisoft
The transaction concerns cloud-streaming rights, not the underlying ownership of Activision Blizzard or its game catalog. Microsoft’s August 21, 2023 restructuring announcement covered all current Activision Blizzard PC and console games and games released during the following 15 years.
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) described the transferred rights as global except for the European Economic Area (EEA). Ubisoft described its rights as exclusive worldwide other than non-exclusive rights in the EEA. The financial terms of the transfer were not stated in the cited transaction announcements.
What the 15-year window means
The scope includes covered games already released when the restructuring was announced and covered Activision Blizzard PC and console games released over the next 15 years. That is a rights period and release window; it is not a promise that every title will appear on one particular streaming service.
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When the deal happened
- August 21, 2023: Microsoft announced a restructured proposal transferring the relevant non-EEA cloud-streaming rights to Ubisoft.
- October 13, 2023: Ubisoft announced that the rights transaction had completed. Microsoft also closed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard that day.
- October 2023: The CMA cleared the revised acquisition after separately reviewing the new structure.
Where Ubisoft’s rights apply
| Territory | Arrangement | Who controls or licenses access | Duration or scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outside the EEA | Ubisoft received the transferred cloud-streaming rights, described by Ubisoft as exclusive worldwide outside the EEA. | Ubisoft controls the relevant rights and can license them to cloud-streaming providers. | Current covered Activision Blizzard PC and console games plus covered releases during the 15-year forward window. |
| EEA | The European Commission’s separate commitments apply; Ubisoft does not hold exclusive EEA streaming rights. | Microsoft must provide licensing arrangements for eligible consumers and cloud-streaming providers. | Microsoft states that the EEA commitments last 10 years. A consumer or provider license taken during that period endures perpetually. |
How the EEA system differs
For consumers in the EEA, the Commission arrangement provides a free license to stream eligible games through a cloud service of their choice, provided the consumer has a license for the game. It also includes licensing commitments for eligible cloud-streaming providers.
The provider-license commitment applies whether or not Microsoft itself streams the eligible games. This is an EEA-specific regulatory arrangement and should not be generalized to other territories.
Why Microsoft changed the deal
The original Microsoft-Activision proposal raised UK competition concerns about cloud gaming. The CMA’s concern was that Microsoft could obtain too much control over the supply of Activision Blizzard games to cloud-streaming services after acquiring the company.
Microsoft restructured the proposal so it would not acquire the non-EEA cloud-streaming rights. The CMA then opened a separate review of the revised transaction. On October 13, 2023, it cleared the revised deal, concluding that the concession addressed its concerns.
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“The new deal for Microsoft to buy Activision without cloud gaming rights has been cleared after the CMA concluded it would preserve competitive prices and better services.”
UK Competition and Markets Authority, October 13, 2023
What Ubisoft does—and does not—own
- Ubisoft received: specified cloud-streaming rights for current and future covered Activision Blizzard PC and console games outside the EEA.
- Ubisoft did not receive: Activision Blizzard, its development studios, the game copyrights, or the broader ownership of the titles.
- Microsoft still acquired: Activision Blizzard as a company, subject to the completed acquisition and its regulatory commitments.
Does this mean Call of Duty or other Activision games are on Ubisoft+?
No automatic catalog conclusion follows from the rights transfer. The transaction gives Ubisoft the ability to control or license relevant cloud-streaming rights outside the EEA, but the cited announcements do not establish that any particular Activision Blizzard title is currently available through Ubisoft’s subscription service, Ubisoft+, or another named provider.
Availability depends on separate licensing decisions, platform support, territory, game edition and service catalogs. Check the current catalog of the service and your region before assuming a title can be streamed.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
What the transaction means for cloud gaming
A separate route for non-EEA providers
Outside the EEA, Microsoft cannot use ownership of the transferred rights to decide unilaterally how those rights are supplied, because the relevant rights were transferred to Ubisoft. Ubisoft can license access to cloud-streaming providers under its own arrangements.
A regulated choice model in the EEA
Inside the EEA, access is shaped by the European Commission commitments rather than Ubisoft’s non-EEA rights. Eligible consumers and providers receive the licensing options described in that arrangement, subject to the stated game-license and eligibility conditions.
Rights are not the same as service availability
A rights holder may license a game without a service carrying it immediately. Technical support, commercial terms, territory, age ratings and a provider’s catalog decisions can all affect whether a specific game is streamable.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common points of confusion
“Ubisoft bought Activision Blizzard.”
Incorrect. Microsoft bought Activision Blizzard. Ubisoft received a defined set of cloud-streaming rights.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience the modernized design of the XBOX Wireless Controller with sculpted surfaces and updated geometry that enhances comfort and control during long gaming sessions.
- PRECISION PERFORMANCE — Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grips on triggers, bumpers, and back case for improved accuracy and handling.
- SHARE BUTTON: Seamlessly capture and share content such as screenshots, recordings, and more with the new Share button.
- VERSATILE CONNECTIVITY — Connect via USB-C for plug-and-play on console and PC, or quickly pair and switch between supported devices with XBOX Wireless and Bluetooth support.
- BUILT-IN AUDIO SUPPORT — Plug in compatible headsets using the 3.5mm audio jack for direct voice chat and immersive in-game sound.
“Ubisoft has exclusive rights everywhere.”
Incorrect. The transferred rights exclude the EEA, where the European Commission commitments govern the relevant licensing model.
“Every Activision Blizzard game will be on Ubisoft+.”
Not established by the transaction. The deal concerns rights, while current service catalogs require separate, up-to-date verification.
“The 15 years is how long every game must remain available.”
Not necessarily. The 15-year figure describes the forward release window for covered games in the transferred rights package, not a guaranteed availability period on a particular service.
The Bottom Line
Microsoft’s 2023 restructuring transferred non-EEA cloud-streaming rights for current and near-term future Activision Blizzard PC and console games to Ubisoft. The transfer completed on October 13, 2023, while the EEA follows separate European Commission licensing commitments. It changed who controls specified streaming rights—not who owns Activision Blizzard or a guarantee that any particular game is currently streamable through Ubisoft+.
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