UK regulators probe Microsoft's $68.7 billion deal with Activision


 U.K. antitrust regulators said on Wednesday they were opening up a bid by Microsoft to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard. Britain's Competition and Markets Authority said it had until September 1 to make a first-stage decision on whether a deal between the US tech firm and video game maker Activision would reduce competition in the UK.


Lisa Tanzi, Microsoft's corporate vice president and general counsel, said in an interview with Reuters: \\'We are committed to answering the questions raised by regulators and ultimately believe that a thorough scrutiny will help close the deal with broad confidence and have an impact on competition' Activision did not immediately respond to a request for comment.


UK regulators are investigating Microsoft’s $68.7 billion deal with Activision. In January, Microsoft announced it would acquire Activision Blizzard, the largest deal in the history of the gaming industry. The CMA's Phase 1 investigation will lead to either approval of the deal or a more in-depth Phase 2 review.


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