Global site navigation

UK probes Microsoft's $69 bn bid for gaming giant
Business and Economy

UK probes Microsoft's $69 bn bid for gaming giant

by  AFP 1 min read
Microsoft in January announced a bid to create the world's third biggest gaming company by revenue by purchasing the owner of hit games "Candy Crush" and "Call Of Duty"
Microsoft in January announced a bid to create the world's third biggest gaming company by revenue by purchasing the owner of hit games "Candy Crush" and "Call Of Duty". Photo: Ina FASSBENDER / AFP/File
Source: AFP

New feature: Check out news exactly for YOU ➡️ find “Recommended for you” block and enjoy!

Britain on Thursday announced an "in-depth investigation" into Microsoft's planned $69-billion takeover of US gaming giant Activision Blizzard, citing UK competition concerns.

US technology giant Microsoft in January announced a bid to create the world's third biggest gaming company by revenue, behind China's Tencent and Japan's Sony, by purchasing the owner of hit games "Candy Crush" and "Call Of Duty".

The proposed deal, already controversial owing to allegations of sexual harassment against women at Activision, now faces a probe by Britain's Competition and Markets Authority.

"The CMA has referred the anticipated acquisition by Microsoft Corporation of Activision Blizzard, Inc. for an in-depth investigation," a statement said.

It added that the "merger may be expected to result in a substantial lessening of competition within a market or markets in the United Kingdom".

Read also

Indonesia investigating Google over app store payment system

Activision Blizzard's portfolio also includes the popular game "World Of Warcraft".

PAY ATTENTION: Enjoy reading our stories? Join YEN.com.gh's Telegram channel for more!

Sorcha O'Carroll, senior director of mergers at the CMA, previously expressed concern that Microsoft could use its control over Call Of Duty and World Of Warcraft "to harm rivals, including recent and future rivals in multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming".

Sony has expressed concerns that Call of Duty might no longer be accessible on its PlayStation console.

Microsoft dismissed such a suggestion, however, saying in a statement Thursday that "it makes zero business sense... to remove Call of Duty from PlayStation given its market leading console position".

Source: AFP

Authors:
AFP avatar

AFP AFP text, photo, graphic, audio or video material shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer or otherwise except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service, AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, videos, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP material. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP material.

Hot: