A person walks past a Microsoft store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on Jan 20.WASHINGTON – The Biden administration on Thursday moved to block Microsoft's US$69 billion bid to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard, throwing a stumbling block in front of the tech giant's plans to rapidly expand its portfolio of popular games and catch up to bigger rivals.that it would buy Activision for US$68.7 billion in the biggest gaming industry deal in history.
The US software company had said it wanted the deal to help it compete with gaming leaders Tencent and PlayStation owner Sony, which has criticised the deal. "Today, we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets."Microsoft President Brad Smith said the company would fight the FTC. "While we believed in giving peace a chance, we have complete confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to present our case in court," he said.
Shares in Activision closed down 1.5 per cent at US$74.76, while Microsoft slipped from earlier highs but closed about 1per cent higher at US$247.40. To woo regulators, shortly after the deal was announced Microsoft unveiled a new set of principles for its app store, including open access to developers who meet privacy and security standards.
Chair Lina Khan and the two Democrats on the commission voted to approve the complaint, while Commissioner Christine Wilson, a Republican, voted no.
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