While the purchase of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft is in the process of being approved by the regulators and competition authorities around the world, quite a few claims are heard from online players who claim that the approval of the deal is an anti-competitive step that will harm the players.
Activision's vice president, Lulu Cheng
, who came out to defend the impending acquisition
, wrote on Twitter: "I hear quite a bit of speculation about the acquisition of Activision-Blizzard by Microsoft. All claims that the deal may have anti-competitive effects on the market are absurdity".
"The merger will benefit gamers and the gaming industry in the US, especially as there is tough competition from abroad. We are committed to continuing to cooperate with regulators around the world in order for the acquisition to materialize, but we will not hesitate to fight and defend the deal if necessary."
Cheng's statement is directed mainly at the Federal Trade Commission in the US, which has stated that it is interested in filing an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft in order to stop the purchase. If such a lawsuit is filed, Microsoft will be forced to conduct its fight in the US courts as well.
In addition, the antitrust and competition authorities in the United Kingdom opened the stages of more in-depth and stricter inspections last month.
Currently, only the competition authorities in Saudi Arabia and Brazil have given their approval.
Sony is doing everything it can to oppose the move, and for the past few months has been putting pressure on the regulators, claiming that after the purchase is approved, Microsoft will make Call of Duty an exclusive brand for Xbox, a move that Sony claims will seriously hurt it and tip the balance in the console war.
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Activision Blizzard
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