Microsoft's $68.7 billion Activision deal referred for in-depth probe

FILE PHOTO: The Microsoft store sign is pictured in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri

(Reuters) -Britain's competition regulator said it will refer Microsoft Corp's $68.7 billion acquisition of "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard Inc for an in-depth investigation.

The Competition and Markets Authority said the merger could reduce competition substantially in gaming consoles, multi-game subscription services and cloud gaming services.