The UK's competition regulator has ruled that Microsoft's $68.7bn (£59.6bn) The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which launched an in-depth investigation in September after raising a host of concerns about the biggest takeover in tech history, said the deal would weaken the global rivalry between Microsoft's Xbox and Sony's PlayStation consoles. "Our job is to make sure that UK gamers are not caught in the crossfire of global deals that, over time, could damage competition and result in higher prices, fewer choices, or less innovation," said Martin Coleman, the chair of the independent panel of experts conducting the investigation. "We have provisionally found that this may be the case here." The CMA said possible remedies to address competition issues included selling or spinning off the business that makes Call of Duty, or the entire Activision arm of the combined Activision Blizzard.

Saudi money remains a contentious subject in the game industry, due to Saudi Arabia's history of violence and abuse directed toward dissidents, women and minorities, migrant workers and others. In June 2020, Riot Games announced that its "League of Legends" European Championship was partnering with NEOM, Saudi Arabia's planned smart city in Tabuk Province. The game's fans lashed out against the company, and broadcast talent for the esport organized a strike in protest.