European Commission Extends Deadline On Decision For Microsoft's Purchase Of Activision Blizzard

EU antitrust boss Margrethe Vestager told Bloomberg that regulators must not be in a race to reach a conclusion on Microsoft's $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard. A day later regulators gave credence to that comment by extending its deadline to reach a ruling on the matter by 10 days. The deadline is now April 25th.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has already provisionally ruled that the deal could reduce competition and result in higher prices for, fewer choices, and less innovation. Microsoft expected the UK CMA to oppose the acquisition. Microsoft claims that Sony has created a false narrative in order to persuade EU regulators to vote against the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Somehow the entire argument continues to revolve around one game primarily: Call of Duty. UK regulators even suggested that the acquisition could pass through the CMA if Microsoft agreed to divest and sell off the Call of Duty franchise, which seems ludicrous considering all of the other assets that are also included in this deal. Microsoft itself has stated that Activision's mobile market via King is one of the actual primary targets of the purchase.

This soap opera will continue of course, and we'll be here to keep you updated.