Microsoft is reportedly anticipating that the UK regulator will oppose its acquisition of video game giant, Activision Blizzard.
The report comes from the New York Times, which states that “Microsoft’s legal team also expects the antitrust authority in Britain to oppose the transaction” after the EU issued its own antitrust warning a few days ago.
Microsoft believes hat the EU is open to potential remedies. The tech company is also hoping to convince the UK and EU to accept its concessions and approve of the deal.
If the two antitrust regulators accept the concessions, it may make it easier to reach an agreement with the FTC before a scheduled trial later this year, Microsoft hopes. However, it also claimed that any of the three agencies could put pressure on the others to oppose the acquisition.
Hearings with FTC May Take Place in August
Back in December 2022, the FTC announced plans to sue Microsoft in a bid to stop its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC argued that it would enable Microsoft to “suppress competitors” and push players towards Xbox by owning an IP like Call of Duty.
According to a recent report, the FTC lawsuit was made in an attempt to dissuade EU regulators from accepting a settlement allowing the deal.
The FTC echoed Sony’s fears that PlayStation would not be able to compete should Microsoft have ownership of Call of Duty. Sony has called the first-person shooter series “irreplaceable.”
Microsoft and Activision argued that the merger would help create more competition and be better for consumers. Microsoft also said that it had offered Sony a 10-year, legally enforceable contract to ensure that every Call of Duty game would also release on PlayStation the same day it does on Xbox.
If the case does go to trial with the FTC, the hearings will take place in August 2023. The FTC recently said that here had been no “substantive” settlement talks with Microsoft over the acquisition.
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Zainah Yousef
Zainah Yousef is the author of The Fallen Age Saga and specializes in gaming, social media advice, and reviews. She's been writing all her life and she probably won't stop anytime soon.
