The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has voiced its issues over Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, stating that the deal would hurt PlayStation and subscription choices ought to Microsoft hold Activision Blizzard video games off the platform,s.

The CMA additionally feels it is doable Microsoft may use Activision Blizzard and its different providers to harm streaming rivals Amazon, Google, and Nvidia.

Bascially, in keeping with the physique, the acquisition may trigger the “substantial lessening of competitors in gaming consoles, multi-game subscription providers, and cloud gaming providers.”

The CMA can also be involved over sport subscriptions because it belives with out this deal, Activision Blizzard video games might have finally launched on different subscription providers.

However, Microsoft says this isn’t the case, and the physique’s “unsupported theories of hurt” weren’t adequate to justify the CMA calling for a Phase 2 investigation.

According to Microsoft, one of many CMA’s most important issues is over the acquisition’s potential affect on PlayStation. Microsoft says the physique shouldn’t be involved within the slightest, as PlayStation has a a lot bigger person base, with or with out Activision Blizzard video games.

The agency introduced up the actual fact PlayStation has a present set up base of 150 million, in comparison with Xbox’s set up base of 63.7 million. Elaborating to GI.biz, Microsoft mentioned that the suggestion that Sony, the present market chief, “might be foreclosed by the third largest supplier” because of dropping entry to Call of Duty “will not be credible.”

The agency even said that ought to each Call of Duty participant on PlayStation defect to Xbox, the participant base on PlayStation would nonetheless be “considerably bigger than on Xbox.”

“In quick, Sony will not be weak to a hypothetical foreclosures technique,” and the Referral Decision incorrectly depends on ” mentioned Micrsoft, including that the “self-serving statements” by Sony “considerably exaggerate the significance of Call of Duty to it and neglect to account for Sony’s clear potential to competitively reply.”

Microsoft reiterated ionce once more that it intends to maintain Call of Duty on PlayStation, as pulling from the system would “alienate” the fanbase and “tarnish each the Call of Duty and Xbox manufacturers”.

The CMA’s second part investigation is about to wrap up in January with a ruling anticipated by March 1.