Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard has suffered another blow...
The UK's competition watchdog has published its preliminary findings into Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, concluding that the deal"could result in higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation for UK gamers."
Following an in-depth"Phase 2" investigation, the Competition and Markets Authority has provisionally concluded that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard"could harm UK gamers," resulting in"higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation" if it were to be approved.
The CMA has also provided a list of remedies, which could provide a solution to the concerns raised by the watchdog. These include a"partial divestiture of Activision Blizzard," with suggestions of selling off the part of the business that handles Call of Duty, selling off the Activision segment of Activision Blizzard, and selling off both the Activision and Blizzard parts of the business that deal with Call of Duty and World of Warcraft.
The authority has also noted that it may be willing to accept behavioural access remedies, though not as"the primary source of remedial action" in a merger investigation, which includes Microsoft providing third-party platforms with access to Call of Duty. The CMA says it"welcomes responses from interested parties to its provisional findings by March 1st and its notice of possible remedies, which sets out potential options for addressing its provisional concerns, by February 22nd." These responses will be considered ahead of the CMA's final report on the acquisition, which is due to be published on April 26th.
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