On April 26, the British authority stopped this deal, considering it harmful to competition in the field of cloud games.
After it objected at the end of April to the Microsoft group’s acquisition of the American video game company Activision Blizzard for $ 69 billion, the British Competition Authority reaffirmed its position on Monday, following the approval of the European Commission to complete this process.
“The Microsoft proposals, approved by the European Commission, will allow the US technology company to define the terms of the video game market for the next 10 years,” said Sarah Kardel, Director General of the Competition and Markets Authority, in a statement received by Agence France-Presse.
The European Commission, which approved the acquisition deal on Monday, required Microsoft to comply with the measures proposed by the technology giant, with the aim of ensuring competition in the video game market that can be played through streaming platforms.
And Cardel considered that these measures “will replace a free, open and competitive market with one subject to permanent rules regarding the games that Microsoft provides, the platforms that you sell to them, and the terms of sale.”
“We understand that the European Commission has the right to present a different view and we respect that, but the British Competition Authority stands by its decision,” she added.
On April 26, the British authority stopped this deal, considering it harmful to competition in the field of cloud games.
Microsoft announced at the time that it would appeal the decision to the British courts.
In 2022, the company that owns the “Xbox” video game brand began its attempt to establish the third largest gaming company in the world by acquiring Activision Blizzard, the developer of the famous “Candy Crush” and “Call of Duty” games, which raised concerns about combating monopoly around the world.
