Bangalore Britain’s antitrust watchdog said on Wednesday it has opened an investigation into Microsoft Corp’s $68.7 billion deal to buy “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard Inc.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it had until September 1 to make its Phase 1 decision on whether a deal between US technology company and video-game maker Activision would reduce competition in the UK.
A Phase 1 investigation by the CMA will either clear the deal or a more thorough Phase 2 investigation.
Both Microsoft and Activision did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters.
In the largest gaming industry deal in history, Microsoft said in January that it was buying Activision Blizzard. According to Refinitiv data, the Microsoft-Activision deal will be the largest cash acquisition on record.