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UK Imposed Restrictions On Microsoft & Activision From Stakes In Each Other

By  |  May 11, 2023

The competition regulator in Britain has issued an interim order that prevents Microsoft and Activision from acquiring any stake in each other without its approval. This decision was made after the regulator blocked their $69 billion merger a few weeks ago.

The order applies to the businesses as well as their subsidiaries. It comes two weeks after the regulator blocked Microsoft’s $68.7bn (£54.8bn) deal to buy Activision Blizzard.

Related: Sony Calls UK’s Reversed Stance On Microsoft Activision Deal ‘Surprising & Irrational’

Microsoft’s proposed acquisition would have included popular titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft.

The regulator expressed concerns about the potential impact of the deal on innovation and choice within the cloud gaming industry.

Microsoft and Activision expressed disagreement with the decision and stated their intention to appeal. An official from Activision commented that the ruling indicated a lack of openness for business in the UK.