The Federal Trade Commission has currently locked its horns with Microsoft in a legal kerfuffle over its plans to acquire one of the world's leading gaming companies in Activision Blizzard for $69 billion.
Amidst this industry-changing tug-of-war, Canada has announced its disapproval of the proposed merger, challenging the claim by Microsoft that all global regulators, except the FTC and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, are on board with the deal, as reported by The Verge's Tom Warren.
The Canada Competition Bureau recently voiced its concerns, calling out "factual inaccuracies" in the assertion made by the multi-trillion-dollar tech giant. The CCB's lawyer, Jonathan Bitran, argued that the Bureau had already raised its unease back in May. Although it hasn't taken the dispute to the level of the UK and the USA, this new objection represents another setback for Microsoft and Activision, likely ruffling feathers at both firms.
Similar to its counterparts, the CCB sees this as a likely trigger for "substantial prevention and/or lessening of competition with respect to gaming consoles and multigame subscription services."
Microsoft's attempted takeover of Activision-Blizzard has been marred by one roadblock after another, notably opposition from global regulatory authorities and competitors. The regulatory bodies in the UK, EU, and USA have been conducting individual investigations, with the EU giving conditional approval, the CMA blocking the deal, and the FTC's decision still pending.