Following a months-long investigation into Microsoft’s attempt to make the largest video game acquisition in history, the CMA today said, «The final decision to prevent the deal.
What just happened? Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard could be in jeopardy after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the takeover over concerns it could alter the could gaming industry, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for gamers.
Following a months-long investigation into Microsoft’s attempt to make the largest video game acquisition in history, the CMA today said, «The final decision to prevent the deal comes after Microsoft’s proposed solution failed to effectively address the concerns in the cloud gaming sector,» which were outlined in the watchdog’s provisional findings in February.
The CMA first opened a probe into the Microsoft deal in July last year. The agency moved the investigation to the more extensive phase 2 in November. It spoke out against the proposed purchase in February, coming to the provisional conclusion that the acquisition could harm UK gamers.
We’ve prevented @Microsoft from purchasing @Activision over concerns the deal would damage competition in the #CloudGaming market, leading to less innovation and choice for UK #gamers.
