Competition protection and anti-monopoly authorities in Britain have warned of the dangers of the American software company Microsoft’s acquisition of computer games company Activision Blizzard for $ 69 billion, on the level of competition in the computer games market in Britain, indicating that it may have to force the two parties to sell the game “Call of Duty”. to a third party to complete the transaction.
The British Competition and Markets Authority said that it had taken a preliminary look at the deal and believes that it may lead to a significant reduction in the level of competition, an increase in prices, and a reduction in the available options and innovation in the video game market in Britain, according to Bloomberg.
The British initial review of the deal raises more doubts about the prospects for its completion, especially as it faces strong opposition from the antitrust authority in America on the grounds that it will allow Microsoft to impose great difficulties on the access of other gaming platforms to the games developed by Activision Blizzard.
The British Competition Authority proposed a set of structural amendments that include disengagement between the two companies, Call of Duty and part of Activision’s activities so as not to completely prevent the merger deal.
It added that it would study the possibility of requiring Microsoft to pledge to competitors access to the Call of Duty game before approving the deal.