Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal gets global scrutiny

In recent years, however, Microsoft has largely escaped the more intense regulatory backlash its Big Tech rivals such as Amazon, Google and Facebook’s parent company Meta have endured. But the sheer size of the Activision Blizzard merger has drawn global attention. — Reuters

Microsoft’s plan to buy video game giant Activision Blizzard for US$68.7bil (RM308.05bil) could have major effects on the gaming industry, transforming the Xbox maker into something like a Netflix for video games by giving it control of many more popular titles.

But to get to the next level, Microsoft must first survive a barrage of government inquiries from New Zealand to Brazil, and from US regulators emboldened by President Joe Biden to strengthen their enforcement of antitrust laws.