The European Commission announced that it would decide before 8 November whether to approve the Microsoft deal to purchase the Activion Blizzard game publishing company for $68.7 billion. The competition authority is still studying its possible impact and consequences.
As a result of the European Commission investigation, it will be clear whether the competition authority will need to conduct a more in-depth investigation of the deal, which will take four months. The biggest deal in the game industry will help Microsoft to compete better with market leaders, Tencent and Sony Interactive Entertainment.
Reuters sources who are familiar with the issue believe that the commission may initiate an in-depth investigation due to the growing concerns of regulators over the transactions of large technology companies.
According to Microsoft's representative, the European Commission's review of the transaction is proceeding according to the expected schedule and regulatory process, so the corporation remains confident that the takeover of the Activation Blizzard will be completed in fiscal year 2023.
Earlier last month, the British competition agency announced that it would launch an in-depth investigation into the deal after Microsoft refused to do so during the initial review.