The concern is that it may „reduce competition in the markets“.
While we’ve already been rather extensively following the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) investigation into Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, it looks like we’ll now be keeping tabs on the European Commission’s investigation as well.
As noted in a new press release, it has been revealed that the European Commission will be opening an „in-depth investigation“ into the acquisition, as it fears that the $70 billion deal will „reduce competition in the markets for the distribution of console and personal computers (‚PCs‘) video games and for PC operating systems.“
The European Commission has noted that it is concerned that following the deal that Microsoft may „foreclose access to Activision Blizzard’s console and PC video games“, especially that of Call of Duty, and that the investigation will determine any „potential economic incentive, to engage in foreclosure strategies“ that may come about following it.
