Microsoft is reportedly set to participate in a games industry event at 10 Downing Street on the same day as the UK’s competition regulator could rule on its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
According toSky News,Xboxwill showcase its products at the Prime Minister’s office on April 26, at an event organised by industry trade body Ukie.
That’s the same day as the deadline for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to publish its final report on the $69 billion deal for Call of Duty ownerActivision, although the regulator’s verdict could be delivered before this date.
AMicrosoftspokesperson has confirmed to VGC that it plans to attend the event next week, but offered no further details.
While the CMA provisionally found in February thatthe merger could reduce competitionand “result in higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation for UK gamers,” it partiallyreversed its decisiona month later.
After reviewing new evidence, the CMA said itno longer believed the deal would significantly reduce competitionin the console gaming space, although it still has concerns about the acquisition’s impact on the cloud gaming market.
In a bid to address these concerns, Microsoft has struck game distribution deals with several cloud gaming services includingGeForce Now,BoosteroidandUbitus.
Microsoft‘s proposed acquisition ofActivision Blizzardwasapproved by South Africa’s Competition Commissionthis week. It has also been cleared in Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Serbia, Chile and Japan.
Further reading
The European Commissionwill publish its verdict by May 22. It has been claimed that Microsoft’s willingness to offer game licensing deals to rivalsis likely to address EU antitrust concerns.
In the US, theFederal Trade Commission is suing Microsoftin a bid to block the Activision Blizzard deal over competition concerns.
