The spokesman for Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, took up the gauntlet and responded to criticism from Microsoft on the advice of the CMA. Redmond and Activision have been very direct in their statements regarding the future of business in the Anglo-Saxon territory. The official response was not long in coming and was of roughly the same caliber.
To put you in context, following the refusal of the purchase of Activision Blizzard, the parties involved said that the decision was to the detriment of the interests of the citizens of the United Kingdom and more taking into account the economic situation they face. Brad Smith, one of Microsoft's most senior executives, even went so far as to say that the European Union was a better place to do business.
Microsoft and Activision Blizzard on government affairs
Sunak Official Spokesperson Indian that the Microsoft official was mistaken in his statements because they were "not based on facts". He also indicated that the AMC acted independently and that UK wants to continue working with Microsoft.
For its part, Microsoft's legal team will appeal the decision to block the purchase, even if the final decision could take several months or even years, according to experts in the field. At the moment, the biggest worry is how much the UK body's decision will influence the US FTC and the European Commission, which we will know between the end of May and the beginning of August.
Gabriel Fuentes
Translator and localizer of video games passionate about retro titles and simulators. He's never let go of a controller since he was given an Atari 2600.
