UK watchdog says Microsoft's Activision deal hurts gamers
Written byTimes Magazine
Microsoft's stalled $68.7 billion deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard has hit a new snag in the UK, where antitrust regulators on Wednesday said it would stifle competition and hurt gamers. Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said its in-depth investigation found the deal could strengthen Microsoft's position in the growing cloud gaming market and "hurt UK gamers who can't afford expensive consoles". PlayStation machines, the watchdog said in an interim report.
The cash deal, which will be the largest in tech industry history, has faced opposition from Sony and opposition from regulators in the US and Europe for giving Microsoft control of popular gaming franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Microsoft Candy would give crushing. Microsoft Deputy General Counsel Rima Alaily said the company is "committed to providing effective and easy-to-use solutions that address CMA concerns." a few more months.
The regulator said it will now seek feedback from interested parties, including possible options to address its competition concerns, for its final report, due out on the 26th Federal Trade Commission. The FTC has tried to block the deal, arguing that the merger could violate antitrust laws by crushing competitors to the Xbox gaming console and its growing game subscription business.
investigation, as well as a separate investigation in the European Union, and hoped to take the proposed remedies to US Atlantic regulators, fearing they had become too domineering.
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