UK antitrust watchdog probes Microsoft’s $69 billion Activision acquisition deal

• CMA has until September 1 to decide if it would allow the deal or investigate further

Britain’s antitrust watchdog on Wednesday said it had started an investigation into Microsoft Corp’s (NASDAQ: MSFT) $68.7 billion deal to buy video game maker Activision Blizzard Inc (NASDAQ: ATVI).

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the agency had until September 1 to make its initial decision on whether the deal between the US software giant and ‘Call of Duty’ maker Activision would reduce competition in the UK.

The phase 1 enquiry will either lead to CMA allowing the deal or will move to a more in-depth probe.