Federal regulators reviewing Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion takeover of Activision Blizzard are looking beyond the access Microsoft’s rivals will have to popular games like “Call of Duty” to such issues as the deal’s impact on consumer data and the market for game developers, according to people familiar with the review.
The companies expect a long, difficult path to approval, having set a deadline of July 2023 for a deal announced in January. The review is notable as one of the first major tech investigations entirely directed by Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan in which a majority of commissioners will likely be aligned with her.
The bulk of attention so far has focused on whether Microsoft will restrict competing gaming companies like Sony from offering Activision titles such as “World of Warcraft” as part of subscription services.
