The UK’s CMA continues to supply points for Microsoft because the tech large tries to get its buy of Activision Blizzard authorised throughout the globe.
Whereas it could have appeared at one level that this deal can be a straightforward feat for Microsoft, every day now it looks like the probabilities of it closing are taking place at an alarming fee.
We noticed a part of that occur at present, with the CMA publishing its provisional ruling which explains why it presently sees this merger as one thing that’ll in the end make the {industry} much less aggressive, and be dangerous for shoppers.
GamesIndustry.Biz’s Christopher Dring factors out some fairly revealing numbers which will additionally assist clarify why the CMA is taking the stance it’s.
In response to a survey run by the CMA, 73% of gamers acknowledged that they’re a PlayStation consumer due to Name Of Obligation, whereas solely 69% of customers mentioned it was the first-party exclusives that drove them to the platform.
Futhermore, when requested if the present Name Of Obligation title obtainable was not launched on PlayStation, 53% mentioned they might have nonetheless caught with the platform, whereas “round three in ten,” or 31% would have purchased one other gadget. 7% of individuals mentioned they simply wouldn’t have purchased a gaming gadget.
Of the individuals who mentioned they might purchase a distinct or one other gaming gadget, 61% responded they might purchase an Xbox over going with a PC able to the video games they might look to play.
These survey outcomes shed extra mild on why the CMA is taking the stance it’s, and imposing what may very well be industry-changing alterations to the deal if it occurs with one in every of its advised circumstances.
Microsoft is doing no matter it may to get the deal by means of, so we’ll nonetheless must see the way it develops within the coming weeks.
Supply – [GamesIndustry.Biz, UK CMA]