Microsoft Expects The UK To Oppose Its Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Microsoft's legal team is expecting that the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will oppose its acquisition of Activision Blizzard following the European Union’s (EU) antitrust warning. According to the New York Times, (paywall) “Microsoft’s legal team also expects the antitrust authority in Britain to oppose the transaction”.

According to the report, Microsoft hopes to convince the UK and the EU to accept its adjustment and approve the deal. If Microsoft can persuade the EU in its favor, it could cause a domino effect by then having the UK accept the concessions. Furthermore, Microsoft could then use both approvals into building its defense against the FTC in the United States.

In other news, Microsoft recently claimed that Sony had lied to the EU’s antitrust authorities about Microsoft’s intentions with Call of Duty to dissuade EU regulators concerning the Activision Blizzard acquisition.