The British Competition and Markets Authority issued a statement setting out its vision of the problems that the Activision Blizzard purchase transaction could entail for Microsoft. The British regulator was not persuaded by the software giant's statement of intent to retain the multiplatform status of Call of Duty.
," says the CMA statement. It also notes that Microsoft has in the past acquired multi-platform games and made them its own exclusives.
According to CMA, Microsoft did not provide convincing evidence that the company would refrain in the future from using a strategy of partial or complete restriction of users of other platforms to popular franchise games. Given that the exclusiveness of Call of Duty could affect user choice in the purchase of consoles, the agency considered that this might affect Sony's ability to compete with Microsoft in this segment. It would also have a detrimental effect on overall competition in the market and ultimately harm consumers.
The regulator will continue to examine the possible consequences of the transaction between Action Blizzard and Microsoft. Stakeholders may submit their arguments to the regulator before 28 October.