Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition faces increased scrutiny in UK
Microsoft‘s ongoing acquisition of Activision Blizzard may “harm rivals” and “damage competition.”In a statement released today (via VGC), the CMA said that it is “concerned that if Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard it could harm rivals, including recent and future entrants into gaming, by refusing them access to Activision Blizzard games or providing access on much worse terms.”The report added that the CMA has “received evidence about the potential impact of combining Activision Blizzard with Microsoft’s broader ecosystem,” which it believes could be used to “damage competition” in console, cloud and PC markets.Due to this, the CMA is considering “an in-depth Phase 2 investigation,” following on from the probe it launched in July.