Microsoft’s $69 billion deal with Activision becomes more likely

Microsoft cleared a major hurdle in its planned buyout of video game maker Activision Blizzard earlier this week. 

Shortly after a U.S. Judge gave the green light for the $69 billion deal, Britains Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) 

agreed to review Microsoft's request to address antitrust concerns in the United Kingdom. Currently, all indications are that the two parties could reach a solution. 

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had previously raised concerns that Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard would allow it to outcompete rival console makers such as Nintendo, or market leader Sony Group.

The U.S. District Judge in San Francisco rejected the Biden administration's claim that the deal would harm consumers by 

giving Xbox console maker Microsoft exclusive access to games such as the best-seller "Call of Duty."

The court now gave the FTC until Friday to appeal the decision.

Douglas Farrar, spokesman for the FTC, said the antitrust agency was "disappointed with this outcome given the clear threat

this merger poses to open competition in cloud gaming, subscription services and consoles. In the coming days, 

we will announce our next step to continue our fight to preserve competition and protect consumers.“

Source: www.reuters.com