Shulou(Shulou.com)11/24 Report--

Thanks to CTOnews.com netizens Wu Yanzu in South China for the delivery of clues! CTOnews.com, April 26 (Xinhua)-- UK Competition and Market Authority (CMA) today announced its opposition to Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard (CTOnews.com Note: about RMB 478.17 billion) to protect innovation and choice in cloud games.

CMA believes that Microsoft currently has a clear advantage in cloud games, and this deal will further strengthen its advantage and eventually lead to an unbalanced market.

Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, expressed dissatisfaction with CMA's judgment and will appeal against it.

"We remain fully supportive of the acquisition and will appeal... CMA's decision rejects a pragmatic approach to competition and hinders technological innovation and investment in the UK."

"We have signed contracts to allow Activision Blizzard's popular games to be used on more than 150 million devices, and we remain committed to strengthening these agreements through regulatory remedial measures. what disappoints us most is that after a long period of deliberation, this decision seems to reflect a misunderstanding of the issue, including the market and the actual operation of related cloud technologies."

Bobby Kotick, chief executive of Activision Blizzard, also responded, insisting that "this is far from the final decision on the deal".

"We will challenge this decision with Microsoft and we have begun to appeal to CMA. We are confident in ourselves because the facts are on our side: the deal is good for competition. The UK wants to improve its leadership in technology, which will be achieved by the merger of Microsoft and Activision."

He continued: "the UK wants to enhance its leadership in technology, and the merger of Microsoft and Activision will achieve that. At a time when machine learning and artificial intelligence are booming, we know that the UK market will benefit from Microsoft's reserve force in these two areas, as well as our ability to put these technologies into use immediately."

"by contrast, if CMA's decision is established, it will stifle investment, competition and jobs in the entire UK gaming industry."

"this merger is a complex process, and I know I'm not the only one frustrated by obstacles and procrastination. We are used to a corporate culture that accomplishes big goals quickly, so it is difficult when we cannot finish tasks at the usual energetic speed."

"We will continue to press ahead with our deal because we know that this merger will benefit our staff, the wider UK technology workforce and participants around the world."

"I will do everything I can to defend us and help regulators understand the competitive dynamics of our industry. I am confident that, whether independent or merged with other companies, we are one of the most powerful companies in the industry and we will continue to grow and build on our incredible IP."

Related readings:

"CMA in the UK explicitly opposes Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard on the grounds of cloud games rather than call of Duty"

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