Microsoft - Activision Deal Draws More Regulatory Attention

  • Microsoft Corp's (NASDAQ:MSFT) $75 billion acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard, Inc (NASDAQ:ATVI) faced intense scrutiny in Brussels and the U.K., the Financial Times reports.
  • There were growing concerns that the deal was anti-competitive and would exclude rivals from accessing the blockbuster game Call of Duty. 
  • The U.K.'s Competition and Markets Authority will likely launch an in-depth investigation this week pending remedies from Microsoft as the CMA typically prefers significant concessions in the first phase, Reuters reports.
  • The regulatory scrutiny comes after Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY) last week accused Microsoft of misleading the games industry and regulators about its commitments to keep Call of Duty on PlayStation consoles. 
  • Microsoft has assured to continue to make Call of Duty available on other companies' gaming consoles, like PlayStation, rather than turning it into an exclusive title on Microsoft's Xbox.
  • The U.S. Big Techs and Chinese Big Techs are amid intense scrutiny globally for exploiting their influence over the smaller players.
  • Price Action: MSFT shares traded lower by 0.93% at $243.09 in the premarket on the last check Friday.
  • Photo via Wikimedia Commons
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