The acquisition of Activision Blizzard King by Microsoft is not decisive for the growth of Xbox, but it is important enough for the American company to put all the means in its possession to achieve it. And its CEO has just put a little extra pressure on the authorities.
Microsoft is gently putting pressure on the British government
Obtaining the catalog of Activision Blizzard games is an important issue, and Microsoft does not rule out putting a brake on the United Kingdom if the takeover is not approved.
In an interview with CNBC, Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, did not rule out the possibility of depriving the country of its products in the future, leaving a doubt that will not fail to be seen by the authorities.
Journalist: Have you imagined a time when you would sell your products in the US if it was approved, where you would sell them in Europe, but not in the UK if they did not approve (the takeover)?
Satya Nadella: Let’s wait and see how the situation evolves.
The reporter then asked Satya Nadella if he was surprised by the CMA’s decision not to approve the takeover, and Nadella nodded, saying he thought it was the most pro-competitive thing he could have done. The CEO of Microsoft recalled that this takeover ticked all the boxes, and would benefit both small publishers and consumers.
The delicate position of the British Prime Minister
The UK’s position is a little tricky since on the one hand we have its official antitrust body which wants to block the deal, and on the other Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, elected in 2022, who was promising to lead a pro-business government during his campaign.
When the CMA’s decision was made known, Microsoft President Brad Smith had criticized the United Kingdom quite virulently, stating that “their confidence in technology in the UK had been seriously shaken”. Rishi Sunak then said that these claims were not confirmed by the facts and that the government would continue to dialogue with Microsoft.
By leaving the doubt of no longer selling its products on British territory, Microsoft is here putting a little extra pressure on the country which is already subject to a lot of criticism after the announcement of the blockage by the CMA.
Even today, the CMA went before a government commission to explain its role and the reasons for its actions, and it appears that some parliamentarians do not really agree with the decision taken. The UK Parliamentary Oversight Committee has shook the CMA with angry questions about the real reasons for this blockage and on “the international reputation of the United Kingdom” which results from this blockage.
Nothing is finished yet since Microsoft has said it is appealing the CMA’s decision, but it is already certain that the impacts of this decision go back to the highest levels of the state, and that we now go beyond the simple framework of video game.
