According to current reports, the British CMA could investigate the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft in detail as part of an antitrust investigation. In addition, it is suspected that the EU will also not easily wave through the approximately $69 billion deal.
In the past month reached us the message, that the British Competition and Markets Authority (short: CMA) want to “examine in detail” the acquisition of the Californian publisher Activision Blizzard by Microsoft.
Above all, the fact that attractive brands such as “Call of Duty” will change hands and could influence the purchasing decisions of gamers in the future, was viewed critically by the competition watchdogs. As reported by the Financial Times, the Competition and Markets Authority is to launch an antitrust investigation this week.
According to the Financial Times, this decision was made due to the fact that both Microsoft and Activision Blizzard let the last deadline pass unused and did not offer any remedies for the competition watchdogs’ concerns.
The EU is also likely to investigate the acquisition
In the second phase of the investigation, the CMA will appoint an independent panel to look extensively into Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard and how far the deal could have a negative impact on free competition. According to the Financial Times, the antitrust investigation by the British Competition and Markets Authority might not be the end of the story.
The industry magazine further reports that insiders and experts expect the European Union to also initiate a detailed review once Microsoft officially files its case in Brussels. “It’s a big deal, a difficult deal,” a Brussels source said to be familiar with the transaction is quoted as saying by the Financial Times. “It needs a full investigation”.
Microsoft most recently attempted to defuse the fears of competition regulators by announced, that the “Call of Duty” series will continue to make its way to PlayStation consoles in the coming years. A promise that Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan, no doubt for political reasons as well, deemed “insufficient on several levels.” described. Source: Financial Times
Follow us and check out our social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook & YouTube ►
● on Twitter ► esport.directory
● Facebook ► esport.directory
● Youtube ► esport.directory
by 
