The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced an investigation into Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard.
The UK watchdog has invited comments on the merger enquiry till July 20 and will announce its decision on September 1.
Microsoft in January announced to acquire Activision Blizzard, the maker of popular games like Call of Duty (CoD) and Warcraft, for $68.7 billion.
In April, South Korea’s antitrust regulator started to review the proposed deal.
South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) said it plans to see if the merger of the two US firms could hurt competition in the online game market.
The US competition watchdog Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is also reviewing Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Lina Khan-led FTC is scrutinising whether Satya Nadella-run tech giant’s move to expand its video game business will substantially lessen competition.
Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony, when the transaction closes.
Following on the 2014 acquisitions of Mojang (makers of Minecraft) and 2021 acquisition of ZeniMax Media/Bethesda (makers of Doom, Elder Scrolls, and Fallout), Activision Blizzard brings IP, like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush to Microsoft’s portfolio.
