Microsoft's Desire To Acquire Activision-Blizzard Dealt Another Blow By UK Regulatory Board
Image Source: Polygon
Only two weeks after The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked Microsoft’s 68.7 billion dollar deal to buy Activision-Blizzard, the regulator has restricted the two companies from “acquiring an interest”, in each other, stating that they would need prior written consent from the UK regulator. Had the deal been accepted, Microsoft would have acquired Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch, among several other properties. However, the CMA blocked the deal because it would offer reduced innovation and fewer choices for gamers. The deal had to be approved by bodies in the USA, UK, and European Union.
Both companies have spoken out against the CMA, with Activision going as far as to say that the UK was "clearly closed for business".
The CMA states on its website that its goal is to “help people, businesses, and the UK economy by promoting competitive markets and tackling unfair behaviour.” Its employees are spread throughout multiple cities in the UK, including London, Edinburgh, Belfast, Cardiff, Manchester, and Darlington. They state that one of their duties is to “Investigate mergers that have the potential to lead to a substantial lessening of competition. If a merger is likely to reduce competition substantially, the CMA can block it or impose remedies to address those concerns.”
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