US regulators have called for Microsoft’s £55billion takeover of Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard to be blocked – following in the UK’s footsteps.

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said the deal, which would be the largest in the history of the video games industry, could ‘substantially lessen competition’ and must be stopped.

The ruling came after the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the deal in April over concerns it would hamper the growth in the sector.

Activision owns games including World Of Warcraft and Candy Crush Saga as well as Call of Duty. 

But while the decision by the CMA was greeted by howls of anger from Microsoft, the US firm was far more measured in its response to the FTC.

Concerns: The US Federal Trade Commission said Microsoft's takeover of Call of Duty video game maker Activision could 'substantially lessen competition'

Concerns: The US Federal Trade Commission said Microsoft's takeover of Call of Duty video game maker Activision could 'substantially lessen competition'

Concerns: The US Federal Trade Commission said Microsoft’s takeover of Call of Duty video game maker Activision could ‘substantially lessen competition’

‘We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court,’ said Microsoft president Brad Smith.

Simon French, head of research at Panmure Gordon, accused the company of ‘hypocrisy – pure and simple’ adding: ‘The measured response of Microsoft to the US regulator is in sharp contrast to the sniping at the UK equivalent.

‘It leaves the impression that these companies thought they were above competition law in the UK.’

The case has divided regulators, with the European Union deciding to give the deal the green light a few weeks after the CMA blocked it.

When the CMA announced its opposition to the deal, Smith slammed the move as ‘bad for Britain’, telling the BBC it was the tech giant’s ‘darkest day’ in the 40 years it has been operating in the UK.

‘The European Union is a more attractive place to start a business than the United Kingdom,’ Smith said at the time. 

But US regulators have followed suit and a trial is set for August where the FTC will argue the deal would give Microsoft the ‘ability and increased incentive to withhold or degrade Activision’s content in ways that substantially lessen competition’.

#fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle#mobile {display:none} #fiveDealsWidget {display:block; float:left; clear:both; max-width:636px; margin:0; padding:0; line-height:120%; font-size:12px} #fiveDealsWidget div, #fiveDealsWidget a {margin:0; padding:0; line-height:120%; text-decoration: none; font-family:Arial, Helvetica ,sans-serif} #fiveDealsWidget .widgetTitleBox {display:block; float:left; width:100%; background-color:#af1e1e; } #fiveDealsWidget .widgetTitle {color:#fff; text-transform: uppercase; font-size:18px; font-weight:bold; margin:6px 10px 4px 10px; } #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {float:left; display:block; width:124px; margin-right:4px; margin-top:5px; background-color: #e3e3e3; min-height:200px;} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {margin-right:0} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle {display:block; margin:10px 5px; color:#000; font-weight:bold} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage img {float:left; display:block; margin:0; padding:0} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {border:1px solid #ccc} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage img {width:100%; height:auto} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemdesc {float:left; display:block; color:#004db3; font-weight:bold; margin:5px;} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemRate {float:left; display:block; color:#000; margin:5px} #fiveDealsWidget .dealFooter {display:block; float:left; width:100%; margin-top:5px; background-color:#e3e3e3 } #fiveDealsWidget .footerText {font-size:10px; margin:10px 10px 10px 10px;} @media (max-width: 635px) { #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {width:19%; margin-right:1%} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {width:20%} } @media (max-width: 560px) { #fiveDealsWidget #desktop {display:none;} #fiveDealsWidget #mobile {display:block!important} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {background-color: #fff; height:auto; min-height:auto} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem {border-bottom:1px solid #ececec; margin-bottom:5px; padding-bottom:10px} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {border-bottom:0px solid #ececec; margin-bottom:5px; padding-bottom:0px} #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem, #fiveDealsWidget a.dealItem#last {width:100%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {float:left; display:inline-block} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemImage {width:35%; margin-right:1%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent {width:63%} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemTitle {margin: 0px 5px 5px; font-size:16px} #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent .dealItemdesc, #fiveDealsWidget .dealItemContent .dealItemRate {clear:both} }

This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You May Also Like

How to Save on Your Taxes and Other Last-Minute Tax Tips

After two years of extended deadlines, tax filing in April is back…

Bread prices to soar after rain-ruined harvests force millers to buy in German wheat

SHOPPERS face paying more for bread after rain-ruined harvests forced millers to…

UK’s cheapest supermarket for a weekly shop revealed – and it’s not Aldi

THE country’s most affordable supermarket has been revealed and the winner may…

Cost of Living payment UPDATE: Millions on PIP still waiting for £150 disability help as DWP admit delays

One couple set to save over £6,000 following Stamp Duty cut Following…