Microsoft promises Call of Duty on PlayStation amid UK scrutiny
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The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) today announced it’s completed the first part of its investigation into the Activision Blizzard-Microsoft acquisition. While the findings were inconclusive, Microsoft made a promise in response. It reassured players it has no intention of keeping Activision Blizzard’s upcoming titles from PlayStation.
The CMA said that it recommends a second, more extensive investigation into the acquisition. It expressed concern that “Microsoft could leverage Activision Blizzard’s games together with Microsoft’s strength across console, cloud, and PC operating systems to damage competition in the nascent market for cloud gaming services.”
A further investigation into the acquisition will likely require the regulators to investigate the communications between the two companies. They will have to determine whether the merger was made with the intention of cutting out market competition, specifically by reviewing both companies’ internal documents.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick published a letter to the company’s staff in response to the decision. According to him, the process is “generally moving along as we expected” and outlined why regulators are still investigating. He added that they’ll require the approval of many governments, and have “already received approvals from a couple of countries.”
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In the middle of this, Microsoft stated that it has no intention
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