Microsoft Responds Harshly To UK Regulator Over Activision Blizzard Deal

Microsoft has announced that it intends to acquire Activision Blizzard. But that’s not fixed yet, because various competition authorities have to give their approval beforehand. This has also happened in two cases, the first major hurdle is in Great Britain.

Saudi Arabia and Brazil, are two countries that have already approved the takeover of Activision Blizzard by the Redmond company, but these were not the big regulatory hurdles. The antitrust authorities in the USA and also the EU have this role, but the British authority also has a lot of influence and importance and cannot be ignored by Microsoft.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) did not approve the transaction in the first instance but instead sent the procedure for a more in-depth review. Microsoft was asked to respond to open questions and comment on details of the deal. That’s what the Redmond-based company did, and as expected, Microsoft isn’t happy about the CMA.

Sony’s arguments

As The Verge editor, Tom Warren writes on Twitter and shows screenshots of Microsoft’s statement, the Redmond company argues that the British authority “owns Sony’s complaints without considering the potential harm to consumers”.

Microsoft argues that the CMA’s views are “out of place” and that the agency is adopting Sony’s positions “unexamined.” The Xbox maker also points out that the PlayStation has a much higher market share, while Sony’s console has twice the install base, Microsoft said.

The Activision shooter plays a central role in the matter, and the company is once again trying to dispel concerns about Microsoft exclusivity. According to the Redmond company, you can’t even afford it: “Keeping Call of Duty on the PlayStation is a commercial necessity for the Xbox business.”