Microsoft announced its intention to purchase Activision Blizzard for some $69 billion. The deal met hurdles and criticism almost immediately, with regulators and competitors claiming the deal could hurt the gaming market, as well as the overall PC market.
The CMA has been investigating the deal for months, upgrading its investigation from Phase 1 to Phase 2 after discovering reasons for concern. The CMA has now concluded that the deal would negatively impact gamers and the gaming market.
Microsoft has remained adamant about working with the acquisition’s biggest detractors on solutions for the deal to pass. Rima Alaily, Microsoft’s corporate VP and deputy general counsel, responded to the CMA’s concerns in a statement to VGC.
“We are committed to offering effective and easily enforceable solutions that address the CMA’s concerns,” said Alaily. “Our commitment to grant long-term 100% equal access to Call of Duty to Sony, Nintendo, Steam, and others preserves the deal’s benefits to gamers and developers and increases competition in the market.”
Additionally, Activision Blizzard gave its statement on the matter:
“These are provisional findings, which means the CMA sets forth its concerns in writing, and both parties have a chance to respond. We hope between now and April we will be able to help the CMA better understand our industry to ensure they can achieve their stated mandate to promote an environment where people can be confident they are getting great choices and fair deals, where competitive, fair-dealing business can innovate and thrive, and where the whole UK economy can grow productively and sustainably.”
Microsoft’s 68.7 billion deal continues its struggle to be resolved. Currently, the deal is now under fire from regulators within Europe, the US, and the UK.
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