Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion is under high scrutiny by the oversea market authorities. The U.K.’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation of the deal started out in between the Xbox powerhouse and the Call of Duty publishers.
According to the statement of CMA after a thorough investigation, “Consider whether the deal would harm competition and lead to worse outcomes for consumers, for example. through higher prices, lower quality, or reduced choice.” CMA also stated that they will be collecting information with the help of third parties. CMA added that it will take time for investigation up to July and then in September it can come to a decision whether or not it has any issue with the acquisition.
Microsoft also responded to CMA’s investigation reports that the tech giant corp will close the deal after taking confidence of the authorities in the fiscal year 2023. Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President Lisa Tanzi said, “We will fully cooperate with the CMA’s merger review. We expect and think it’s appropriate for regulators to take a close look at this acquisition. We have been clear about how we plan to run our gaming business and why we believe the deal will benefit gamers, developers, and industry.”
Reportedly there have been rows of controversy regarding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizard. In May New York City sued Activation Blizzard’s CEO Bobby Kotick for initiating the only expedited sale of the company to Microsoft in order to space accountability of sexual misconduct and gender discrimination that happened under his watch. According to the reports the $108 million independent company could have faced a devaluation of stock and that could be the reason its selling has been initiated.
