On Thursday, Microsoft stated that the European Union is a more appealing destination for businesses compared to post-Brexit Britain.
This statement was made after UK regulators blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the video game maker behind popular titles such as “Call of Duty,” due to concerns about competition and consumer choice.
The acquisition is still awaiting approval from the EU and the US, but some analysts believe that the UK’s decision to block the deal could mean a “game over” for the acquisition.
Microsoft’s vice-chair and president, Brad Smith, said that the UK’s decision was “probably the darkest day” in the company’s 40-year history in Britain, and it would “certainly not help” with future investment decisions. However, a spokesman for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak insisted that the UK remains an attractive destination for tech and gaming companies.
Microsoft launched its bid for Activision in early 2022 intending to create the world’s third-largest gaming company, behind China’s Tencent and Japan’s Sony.
