The $69 billion megadeal has generated a lot of discussion and writing, with UK regulator CMA warning that the transaction might raise concerns about competition. Additionally, according to a recent Politico article, the FTC is considering filing an antitrust lawsuit to stop Microsoft from buying Activision Blizzard. In a statement after the release of this story, Microsoft said the business is ready to resolve authorities’ persistent concerns. Activision-Blizzard’s CEO stoked the flames by declaring that the company is prepared to battle to protect the merger. Furthermore, Meservey argued that it is absurd to claim that the agreement may have an anticompetitive impact. We’ll still trail Sony and Tencent in the market after the deal closes, and together Activision and Xbox will benefit gamers and developers and make the industry more competitive.” -Microsoft Spokesperson David Cuddy
Any suggestion that the transaction could have anticompetitive effects is absurd. This merger will benefit gamers and the US gaming industry — especially as we face stiffer competition from abroad. We’re committed to continuing to work cooperatively with regulators around the globe to allow the transaction to proceed, but won’t hesitate to fight to defend the transaction if that’s needed.” — Lulu Cheng Meservey (@lulumeservey) November 24, 2022 The Activision merger has been approved by regulators in Saudi Arabia and Brazil, but the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has expanded its investigation into a second phase. It is now asking the public for feedback on the acquisition before making a final decision. Activision and Microsoft’s anticipated merger deal has encountered several obstacles as a consequence of criticism from different IT behemoths and experts. Watching Microsoft handle this will be intriguing.
