Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition will harm UK gamers, says watchdog

CMA says Xbox maker’s takeover of Call of Duty and World of Warcraft owner could lead to higher prices

The UK’s competition regulator has ruled that Microsoft’s $68.7bn (£59.6bn) deal to buy Activision Blizzard, the video game publisher behind hits including Call of Duty, will result in higher prices and less competition for UK gamers.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which launched an in-depth investigation in September after raising a host of concerns about the biggest takeover in tech history, said the deal will weaken the global rivalry between Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s PlayStation consoles.