Microsoft's $68.7bn (£55bn) deal to buy US video game company Activision Blizzard has been blocked in the UK by the Competition and Markets Authority. The proposed takeover would see Microsoft acquire such hit titles as Call of Duty and Candy Crush. But the regulator said it was concerned the deal would offer reduced innovation and less choice for gamers in the fast-growing cloud gaming business. Microsoft and Activision hit out at the decision and said they would appeal. "The CMA's report contradicts the ambitions of the UK to become an attractive country to build technology businesses," a spokesperson for Activision said. Microsoft has already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzard's games available on 150 million more devices, he added. To go through, the deal has to be approved by regulatory bodies in the UK, United States and European Union. As well as a big financial investment, this deal is important for Microsoft because it wants to strengthen its position in the future gaming market.
