According to a new report, Microsoft’s bid to acquire game maker Activision Blizzard may be hampered by a UK regulator. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has reportedly expressed concerns that the Redmond company’s $69 billion (approximately Rs. 5,49,900 crore) acquisition deal could harm rivals who offer access to the publisher’s titles while limiting their ability to compete in the cloud gaming sector. According to reports, the firms have less than a week to propose solutions to the CMA’s concerns.
According to the Associated Press, the CMA expressed its concerns on Thursday about Microsoft’s bid to acquire Activision Blizzard, which was first revealed in January. The UK regulator is not the first to express concerns about the deal; the FTC announced in February that it would investigate Microsoft’s partnership with the game publisher.
According to the report, Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, is “ready to work with the CMA on next steps and address any of its concerns.”
According to the report, one of the CMA’s concerns was that Microsoft’s deal could harm competitors who offered access to Activision Blizzard games. The company is well-known for popular titles and gaming franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo.
According to the report, the UK regulator is also concerned about the deal’s impact on competition in the upcoming cloud gaming sector.
The CMA, which opened an initial investigation into the deal in July, has reportedly asked Microsoft and Activision Blizzard to respond to its concerns within five days, or else the deal will be scrutinized further.
