UK Blocks Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal Over Cloud Gaming Concerns

UK Blocks Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal Over Cloud Gaming Concerns
Microsoft logo on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters on Jan. 18, 2022. Dado Ruvic/Reuters
Reuters
Updated:

LONDON—Britain will block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard over concerns it would hinder competition in cloud gaming, dealing an unexpected blow to the biggest-ever deal in gaming.

The country’s antitrust regulator said on Wednesday that Microsoft’s commitment to offer access to Activision’s multi-billion dollar “Call of Duty” franchise to leading cloud gaming platforms would not effectively remedy its concerns.