“CMA Rules Against Microsoft’s Purchase of Activision Blizzard, Microsoft Plans to Appeal”

Microsoft has suffered a severe setback in the purchase process of Activision Blizzard, and it is that the CMA has definitively ruled against it. The British regulatory body has argued that “the agreement would strengthen Microsoft’s advantage in the market by giving it control over content of the importance of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft and Overwatch”, blocking the operation… permanently? For those of Redmond, not at all.

First reactions of the protagonists

And it is that the North American company has not been slow to react by launching a statement in the mouth of neither more nor less than its vice president, Brad Smith. “We remain fully committed to this acquisition, and we will appeal,” Smith said emphatically. “The CMA decision rejects a pragmatic path to emphasize competition, technology innovation and investment in the UK”.

From Activision Blizzard they have also raised their voices. “The CMA decision contradicts the UK’s ambitions to become an attractive country to build tech businesses”, said an anonymous spokesperson. “We will work aggressively with Microsoft to appeal and reverse it. The conclusions are a grievance to the citizens of the United Kingdom, who are facing economic difficulties. We will rethink our growth plans there. Global innovators, large and small, will take note of this, and despite their rhetoric, the UK is clearly closed for business,” they conclude in a tougher statement than Microsoft.

Nor has remained silent, as expected, the controversial CEO of Activision Blizzard, and who will remain in the position if the operation ends up failing, Bobby Kotick. “We can and will contest this decision.Kotick said. “We have already started working to appeal the UK Court’s decision.”

With these various statements from the protagonists of the operation, it is to be expected that the soap opera is still far from over. In fact, the latest information suggests that the process will continue in the coming months and it is expected to be successfully completed around the year 2024.

Fuente: Games Industry