The world of video game development is on the move as giants reach into their pockets to acquire valuable assets for their growth. This was the case for Microsoft, among others, which announced the industry’s largest transaction earlier this year with a $68.7 billion offer.
Featured image: Activision Blizzard
By getting its hands on a catalog spanning Candy Crush, Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Overwatch to name a few, Microsoft gave itself a whole deck of cards to increase its impact in a highly competitive industry.
However, it’s starting to get a little gritty in the aisles.
In a press release, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority expressed concerns about this transaction.
“If Microsoft acquires Activision Blizzard, it could harm its competitors, including new and future entrants in the gaming industry, by denying them access to Activision Blizzard games or allowing them access to much more difficult ones.”
In short, the CMA is awaiting responses from the key players involved in the transaction, who fear it will set a precedent that would undermine the principle of free competition.
It could therefore be that a more detailed investigation with independent experts takes place.
For his part, Microsoft’s Phil Spencer assures that there is nothing to worry about. Not only does he not want to deprive a rival console of popular titles like Call of Duty, but has indicated that his company intends to use the new know-how to expand its network in the field of mobile games.
Will all this brouhaha hurt the transaction?
In fact, it may delay the process a bit, and the outcome of all this is not yet clear.
Activision Blizzard CEO Robert Kotick mentions that several countries have already approved the whole thing. In fact, only Saudi Arabia has officially given a positive response.
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