The trend was generally positive for several weeks, but after having made several commitments, the European Commission decided to issue a favorable opinion on what could be the biggest capital operation in the gaming industry. The Commission, which is known to be more fastidious than its American and British counterparts, considered that the commitments made by Microsoft not to stifle competition with the purchase of Activision, were convincing. Even better, in its statement on Monday, the commission wrote that the proposed acquisition would unlock significant benefits for competition and consumers.
Microsoft’s takeover of Activision: a long way to go
This is a big step for Microsoft, but nothing is won yet. While Japan, which is known to be ultra protectionist, did not give in to Sony’s intense lobbying by authorizing the operation, the situation has become tense with the Anglo-Saxons. Indeed, a few weeks ago, the British competition authority vetoed the deal. In the United States, the FTC has launched a legal action to block Microsoft’s acquisition, the outcome of which is uncertain. The road is still long and it seems highly unlikely that the situation will be resolved by 2023. Microsoft will have to convince on its own ground, in the USA, to finalize this acquisition and certainly move into another world.
