The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has announced that it is against Microsoft’s acquisition of game developer Activision Blizzard.
$69 billion deal that will allow Microsoft to buy hit games like Call of Duty and Candy Crush, Blocked by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). According to the CMA, it was tentatively decided that this acquisition would result in higher prices, less choice and less innovation.
In the investigation, which has not yet been fully decided, another process will be required for the parties to make their final defenses. It was announced by Microsoft that it would find solutions to “eliminate the concerns of the CMA” for this situation.
CMA’s press release here you can find.
Microsoft comes to fruition in Activision-Blizzard deal
Microsoft corporate vice president and vice general counsel Rima Alaily said long-term commitments to 100% equal access to Call of Duty across Sony, Nintendo, Steam and other platforms benefit gamers and developers and increase competition. He added that 75% of respondents “agree that this deal is good for competition in the UK games”.
Related content: What will be the state of this case?
At the point reached now, not all doors are closed for Microsoft. However, it is clear that their work will be very difficult. There is a deadline until April 26, 2023 for the purchase to take place.
The gaming industry has never seen such a big acquisition before. For this reason, we can say that it is a useful process in terms of gathering together many data that can form the basis for subsequent mergers or acquisitions.
What happens after this point?
The process is not complete yet, lawyers from both sides will visit the CMA abundantly in the coming days to defend their arguments. Of course, we can also think that a process in which swords will be drawn in real terms has begun.