Following an in-depth review by the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) month ago and warnings to Microsoft, the European Commission begins its second look into Microsoft’s Activision acquisition. As confirmed by The Verge earlier today, the investigation has been the latest among the constant controversies regarding the Microsoft Activision deal.
According to The Verge, the investigation is set to have a November 8th “provisional deadline.”
The acquisition of Activision by Microsoft, while amazing to some, drew ire and worry to most of the video game community and beyond. UK’s CMA who conducted the in-depth review nearly a month ago, expressed their own worry that the deal would restrict the valuable content from other gaming platforms posing a risk to markets including console and cloud gaming.
Microsoft has remained firm on their stance on the deal even after the CMA raised its initial concerns, while aware and willing to cooperate with the CMA. In the recent announcement, Microsoft continues to be firm with that statement saying that “the deal is progressing in line with the expected regulatory schedule and process, and we remain confident that the acquisition will close in fiscal year 2023.”
As the investigation gets under full swing, it won’t be until early November till we hear the European Commision’s verdict. Hopefully by that point Microsoft will continue to be willing to work with the government bodies, regardless what decision they make.