Microsoft announced in January that it would acquire Activision Blizzard Inc. for $69 billion, the largest deal in the gaming industry. According to the latest news from Politico, the acquisition could change, as sources revealed that the US Federal Trade Commission could block the deal with antitrust.
The US Federal Trade Commission, which oversees the review, has questioned some of Microsoft’s arguments, which could lead to an antitrust lawsuit. However, at this stage, the four committee members have not yet voted, nor have they met with lawyers for the two sides, and may not necessarily file an anti-monopoly suit. Of course, Sony is an active opponent, believing that the acquisition will cause the popular game series “Call Call” to be controlled by Microsoft, which will hurt Sony’s interests.
An Activision Blizzard spokesperson said it will work with global regulators to make sure the transaction goes smoothly, but will fight to defend the transaction if necessary, and that the violation of competition laws is laughable. A Microsoft spokesman said that to ensure the transaction is completed in an atmosphere of confidence, evidence has been prepared to ease the concerns of regulators and Sony. Even if the transaction is completed, market share is still lower than that of Sony and Tencent. In addition to the United States, regulators in the United Kingdom and the European Union have also launched investigations, which are not expected to be finalized until next year.
(This article is sponsored by Unplug HK Authorized for reprint; source of the first image:Microsoft）
