The UK’s competition regulator has further tightened restrictions on Microsoft’s $68.7bn takeover of Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are now subject to an interim order given by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
In the interim order, it states the two firms now have “Restrictions on acquiring an Interest”.
It means either of the parties is unable to acquire an interest in the other or its subsidiaries. In addition, they cannot acquire an enterprise with an interest or “carrying on the business of [the other] from time to time”.
A spokesperson for Microsoft told UKTN: “We remain firmly committed to this deal and look forward to presenting our case to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.”
Activision Blizzard has been contacted by UKTN.
If the firms want to conduct an interest in the other they first must get written approval from the CMA.
Games owned by Activision Blizzard include Call of Duty, Candy Crush and Overwatch.
Activision Blizzard this week hired Lord David Pannick, who defended former prime minister Boris Johnson in the “partygate” scandal.
The CMA blocked the two companies’ $68.7bn merger in April around worries it would result in “innovation and less choice for UK gamers”.
A review of Foundation AI models was launched this month by the CMA on its impact on the market.
Coding platform Builder.ai this week received an undisclosed equity stake from Microsoft.
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