UK regulators block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has blocked Microsoft’s $68.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard, citing concerns that it could reduce innovation and choice for UK gamers in the cloud gaming market. Microsoft plans to appeal the decision, but it will likely prevent the company from closing the deal if the appeal is unsuccessful. The CMA estimates that Microsoft controls around 60 to 70 percent of global cloud gaming services and that adding control over Call of Duty, Overwatch, and World of Warcraft would give Microsoft a significant advantage in the cloud gaming market.