In an attempt to zing past the British watchdog in the largest deal in gaming history, Microsoft is bravely transferring its cloud streaming rights for all new and current Activision Blizzard games to Ubisoft Entertainment – a move experts believe could either end up being the ultimate gaming industry handshake or the tech equivalent of Monty Python's parrot sketch. Brad Smith, Microsoft’s President, and somewhat reluctant circus ringleader, took to the task of announcing this bold plan in a recent blog post. It's become increasingly apparent Microsoft's strategy is akin to ascribing to the logic of a flustered Call of Duty player: if you can't shoot your way directly through resistance, acquire a new weapon and blow past the enemy's flank. In the strategy game that's become this acquisition, Ubisoft is the unforeseen killstreak bonus. The French-based gaming mammoth, best known for titles such as Assassin's Creed and Far Cry, is now set to receive all the glory, clouds, and rainbows Microsoft can pump into the virtual ether for the next fifteen years, thereby appeasing any persisting naysayers from the UK. The pre-emptive charm offensive meant to assuage the Brits has been as subtle as a Creeper in Minecraft. Revealing snippets of the acquisition's lesser known benefits, Smith gushed, "Ubisoft has demonstrated strong commitment to a diverse and inclusive global gaming community" - a sentiment echoed by no one who's ever played Uno online against an unbeaten French 9-year-old named François. Meanwhile, on the other side of the pond, Activision Blizzard, the controversial creator of World of Warcraft and the Call of Duty series, has been busy fending off allegations of fostering a frat-boy culture whilst weathering an ongoing document destruction scandal. Fingers crossed their 'Warcraft' isn’t becoming a little too real for comfort. Still, players of the gaming industry are anxiously keeping their joysticks gripped tightly. With the odds stacked highly, one can only hope the outcome of this saga somehow advances beyond the notorious duck hunt level. As of now, though, it seems a lot like Microsoft's virtual 'Call of Duty' appears to be playing a high-stakes game of 'Capture the Flag', with Ubisoft as the unexpected flag bearer. Whether or not this move will pacify the British authorities remains at level 'unknown'.