Microsoft’s bid for Activision-Blizzard faces new regulatory delays in UK
Microsoft’s proposed $68.7 billion purchase of game studio Activision Blizzard is facing closer scrutiny from regulators: A month after a US regulator asked a court to halt the deal, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK regulatory body that investigates potential anti-competitive behavior, has extended the timetable for its ongoing investigation.
The UK regulator was due to publish its findings from the phase two investigation on March 1, 2023, however, in a statement released on January 5, the CMA said this deadline had been pushed back until April 26, 2023. It noted that the extension had been granted due to the scope and complexity of the investigation, in addition to needing more time to assess the “large volume of evidence, as well as main party and third-party submissions.”