Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard sees in-depth investigation by European Commission

What you need to know

• Back in January 2022, Microsoft announced a deal to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. 
• The deal is currently undergoing regulatory review, with a couple of regulators having granted approval. 
• The European Commission is opening a larger investigation into the deal and will have a  conclusion by March 2023.
• The deal is also currently being investigated by the FTC in the U.S. and the CMA in the U.K. 

The nearly $69 billion purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft is getting another thorough examination from one of the major regulators. 

The European Commission shared (opens in new tab) on Tuesday that an “in-depth” investigation was being opened regarding Microsoft’s deal to acquire Activision Blizzard. Specifically, the European Commission is citing concerns that Microsoft may foreclose competitors’ access to titles like the Call of Duty franchise.