The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority has responded to the European Commission’s statement approving Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard.

While both the CMA and the Commission agree that the deal could have a chilling effect on innovation in the cloud gaming sphere, they came to different conclusions. The CMA rejected the deal whereas the Commission agreed with it pending some concessions from Microsoft.

You can read the statement from the CMA here:

Our response to the European Commission’s announcement today on Microsoft/Activision

The UK, US and European competition authorities are unanimous that this merger would harm competition in cloud gaming. The CMA concluded that cloud gaming needs to continue as a free, competitive market to drive innovation and choice in this rapidly evolving sector.

Microsoft’s proposals, accepted by the European Commission today, would allow Microsoft to set the terms and conditions for this market for the next 10 years.

They would replace a free, open and competitive market with one subject to ongoing regulation of the games Microsoft sells, the platforms to which it sells them, and the conditions of sale.

This is one of the reasons the CMA’s independent panel group rejected Microsoft’s proposals and prevented this deal. While we recognise and respect that the European Commission is entitled to take a different view, the CMA stands by its decision.

The UK has made their position clear in their earlier statement a few weeks ago.