It looks like Microsoft and Activision are going to be spending a lot of money on legal battles revolving around their proposed $69 billion deal. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission is going to court to block the merger. In Sweden, a state-run pension fund has sued both companies. Now, a group of gamers have banded together to file a lawsuit against the acquisition in California.
Microsoft Activision deal will “reduce consumer choice,” gamers claim
As reported by Bloomberg Law, the anti-trust lawsuit was filed in San Francisco, with plaintiffs arguing that Microsoft’s control over iconic franchises would limit consumer choice and impact prices.
“The proposed acquisition would give Microsoft an unrivaled position in the gaming industry, leaving it with the greatest number of must-have games and iconic franchises,” the complaint reads. Microsoft has yet again defended its position, telling Bloomberg Law that the reality is quite the opposite. “This deal will expand competition and create more opportunities for gamers and game developers as we seek to bring more games to more people,” the company said in a statement.
All eyes are on U.K. and E.U., where the deal has entered in-depth investigation as Microsoft failed to convince regulators that the acquisition wouldn’t harm competition.