British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sided with Microsoft and Activision Blizzard over the weekend, saying it needed credibility to protect UK interests. He made the announcement about a week after the historic nearly $69 billion acquisition of CMA. she blocked. However, she approved it yesterday European Union and British politicians have questioned why the CMA is opposed to a merger between Xbox owner and Call of Duty publisher.
According to British Eurogamer, the British government’s business and commerce committee interrogated CMA bosses Markus Bockerink and Sarah Cardell this morning. Both faced repeated questions and were asked by MPs to explain why they made a different acquisition decision than their European counterparts. They also repeatedly questioned whether the CMA considered the impact of link blocking on the UK’s international reputation.
Politicians are concernedso that the blocking of the deal does not send a signal to other firms that the UK is less friendly to them than continental Europe after Brexit. After all, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have said they prefer to invest in the EU.
Source: MicrosoftCan Microsoft crush the competition? It is also supposed to show games that will be released later.
“The European Commission agreed that the agreement could raise concerns about competition, there is no difference between the CMA and the EC, but the Commission still considered it appropriate to take corrective measures. [Microsoftu]. They act in their own way and have come to their own opinion, to which they have every right. However, from the perspective of the United Kingdom, we continue to believe that the adoption of this remedy was inappropriate.” Sarah Cardell, chief executive of the CMA, supported the decision.
CMA considers cloud gaming to be a fast growing industry with it is important that it remains a free and competitive market. Only in this way can it support innovation and choice. Microsoft’s proposals, approved by the European Commission, allow defining the conditions of this market for the next ten years. But from the CMA’s perspective, they are replacing a free, open, and competitive marketplace with a marketplace that will be subject to constant regulation of the games Microsoft sells, the platforms they sell them on, and the terms of the sale.
CMA Executive Director also to MPs she recalled the situation in the United States, where the Federal Trade Commission is still trying to block the agreement through the courts.
Controversial Activision Blizzard boss Bobby Kotick made it clear long before this, warning Britain: “Rishi Sunak said that they would like to be the Silicon Valley of Europe or the continent. But if such agreements do not take place, it will not be Silicon Valley, but Death Valley.”
Source :Indian TV
