Microsoft tried to buy a different mobile game publisher before Activision Blizzard
Microsoft previously attempted to buy a mystery mobile game publisher, according to documents published this week by the UK’s competition watchdog.
On Wednesday, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was blocking Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard due to concerns about the deal’s impact on the future of the cloud gaming market.
While the merger has often been framed as Microsoft seeking to purchase Call of Duty, Xbox boss Phil Spencer has consistently claimed that the $69 billion deal is primarily driven by the company’s mobile gaming ambitions.
Microsoft has said the merger would improve its ability to create a “new Xbox mobile platform” and a “next generation game store” to compete with Google Play and the App Store.
After months of investigation, on Wednesday the CMA published its final, 418-page report on the deal, which revealed that Microsoft previously attempted to buy a different mobile game publisher.
“We note Microsoft’s submission that Activision has significant strength in mobile gaming, and consider that the presence of Activision’s games on any mobile gaming store would enhance its competitiveness,” it wrote.
“However, we also consider that this could be achieved by less anti-competitive means than the Merger, and Microsoft could acquire ‘attractive content and experience with player engagement and acquisition’ by buying a different mobile games publisher. This appears to have been Microsoft’s strategy – it attempted to buy [redacted] in [redacted], and said [redacted].”
The CMA continued: “We also consider that to launch a competitive mobile platform, Microsoft would need a significant quantity and variety of games.
“This would be likely to involve making agreements with third
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