Britain’s CMA has raised concerns about the deal’s impact on competitors offering access to Activision Blizzard titles.
Microsoft could face a hurdle in its attempt to acquire game maker Activision Blizzard because of a UK regulator, according to a new report. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reportedly raised concerns that the Redmond-based company’s $69 billion deal to compete in the cloud gaming sector has reportedly given the firms less than a week to suggest ways to address the CMA’s concerns.
The CMA on Thursday expressed concern over Microsoft’s attempt to acquire Activision Blizzard, which first became known in January, according to an Associated Press report. The UK regulator isn’t the first to express concerns about the deal – the FTC announced in February that it would review Microsoft’s deal with the games publisher.
Microsoft is “ready to work with the CMA on the next steps and address any of their concerns,” company president Brad Smith said, according to the report.
One of the concerns raised by the CMA was that Microsoft’s deal could hurt competitors who, according to the report, offered access to Activision Blizzard games. The company is known for several popular titles and gaming franchises, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.
According to the report, the UK regulator has also raised concerns about the deal’s impact on competition in the burgeoning cloud gaming sector.
The CMA, which launched an initial investigation into the deal in July, has reportedly asked Microsoft and Activision Blizzard to respond to their concerns within five days before the deal is subject to further scrutiny.
