Cloud, not consoles, blocks Microsoft's Activision view in UK

FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - For all the thunder about Xbox versus PlayStation, it was the nascent cloud market that led to Britain's surprise decision to block Microsoft's record Activision Blizzard takeover.

Microsoft has been working for months to satisfy concerns about the $69 billion deal raised by Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which has been increasing proactive in taking on "Big Tech" since Brexit.