The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published arevised administrative timetablefor rendering its decision on the proposed merger between Xbox ownersMicrosoftand Call of Duty developer/publisherActivision.
Originally sent to issue its final report by March 1, the CMA has delayed that report to now arrive on April 26. Last we heard from the CMA, the UK government body waspolling the publicto gauge its approval of the merger, with a reported75 percent of the population surveyed being in favoras of December.
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We should also note that the schedule now indicates provisional findings and possible remedies for any issues the CMA might raise that will take place between January and February. Additionally, a new round of hearings for responses from Microsoft, Sony, Activision Blizzard, and other affected parties will take place between February and March. A deadline for all final responses will be set later in March, with the final report coming by April 26 at the latest.
It’s possible we might hear from the CMA earlier than the end of April. The report notes that it “aims to complete the inquiry as soon as possible and in advance of this date,” but given the current delay it seems reasonable to expect the CMA to take a bit longer to consider this merger.
The FTC suit seeking to block the Activision and Microsoft merger likely has given the CMA pause to reconsider even a favorable public opinion. Microsoft has reportedlyrefused to settle the suit, which means that the final merger might not take place later this summer as initially scheduled.
While the FTC is certainly opposed and the CMA is uncertain, the UK public is on board with Activision and Microsoft tying the knot. So too are the nascent unions at Activision,which have also expressed support for the merger. QA testers withinhave fought long and hardto receive official legal protectionswith Activision fighting them every step of the way, while Microsoft recently voluntarily recognized the new ZeniMax QA testers unionwhich was formed earlier this week.
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