Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard is undergoing regulatory review from governments around the world. Microsoft has so far gained acceptance in Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Serbia. In some countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom, the approval process is still ongoing. The CMA is currently in Phase II of its review of the Activision-Blizzard merger, and the government has issued a call for public comment. Phase II of the process started in September 2022 and will wrap up in March 2023. After this time period ends, the CMA will rule on whether or not Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision would be anti-competitive. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of the United Kingdom contacted the general public earlier this year to explore more about what the people think of Microsoft’s planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard. They wanted to find out from the public if the deal might affect the industry, and the CMA has now released its findings. According to the CMA, out of more than 2,100 emails sent, about 75% were in favor of the deal, while 25% were opposed. The CMA’s review of the responses and a summary of the arguments were made public in the merger inquiry statement. The list is quite long, however, some of the prominent responses were: There is still a significant amount of work to be done, despite the fact that it might appear as though the process of regulatory approval is nearing its end. Nevertheless, this new development gives Microsoft some hope that it will receive approval from the UK. The Merger is a reaction to Sony’s business model for PlayStation, which has historically involved securing exclusive content or early access to popular cross-platform gaming franchises, such as Final Fantasy and Silent Hill. Microsoft is already dominant in PC operating systems, and this Merger is an attempt to gain a similar position in gaming. This would be the largest merger in gaming history, paving the way for a potential string of future acquisitions of publishers such as Take Two EA, Ubisoft, thereby increasing concentration in the market.
