Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard has been the subject of a lengthy investigation by regulators in the UK and Europe, who want to know more about the deal between the companies.
The $68.7 billion deal will be investigated in a second phase as competition authorities seek more information.
According to the Financial Times, thanks to the VGC, the UK Competition and Trade Authority launched its second phase of investigation after Microsoft failed to provide solutions to concerns raised by the regulator.
The second step involves the formation of an independent committee, which will analyze the business in more detail and try to understand whether it has the potential to cause a serious weakening of competition.
The Financial Times says that once Microsoft submits documents in Brussels, European companies will do the same, and the deal will be analyzed for complexity and size.
It’s a titanic deal that would give Microsoft control over some of the world’s most iconic assets, and authorities in Europe appear to want to launch detailed investigations to determine whether it risks harming its ability to compete.
