Ubisoft Secures Cloud-Streaming Rights to Activision Blizzard Games

Shares in Ubisoft Entertainment experienced a significant increase after the French videogames company secured cloud-streaming rights to popular games such as the "Call of Duty" series, as part of Microsoft's restructured takeover of Activision Blizzard.

At 0756 GMT, Ubisoft's shares rose by 6.6% to EUR31.23.

Ubisoft, known for developing the critically acclaimed "Assassin's Creed" videogame series, announced that it will now have cloud rights in perpetuity for Activision Blizzard's existing catalog, including the highly successful "Call of Duty" franchise, as well as any future titles released within the next 15 years. However, the deal does not include nonexclusive streaming rights in the European Economic Area.

The implementation of this agreement is subject to the completion of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision.

While the financial terms of the Ubisoft-Activision deal were not disclosed, the CMA stated that Ubisoft will make a one-time payment to Microsoft and establish a market-based wholesale pricing mechanism as compensation for obtaining cloud streaming rights to Activision's games.

Furthermore, this agreement will enhance the content offerings of Ubisoft's subscription service, Ubisoft+. It will also allow Ubisoft to license streaming access to Activision's games to cloud gaming companies, service providers, and console makers.

"This will significantly expand access for players across multiple streaming services," stated Ubisoft.

The CMA also highlighted that this transaction permits Ubisoft to commercialize the rights to any other cloud gaming-service providers, including Microsoft itself.