UPDATE 2: The CMA’s provisional conclusion “swings the pendulum back in favour of the deal completing”, a leading game industry analyst has told Eurogamer.
“My long-term view of this deal has always been that it would complete but with further concessions from Microsoft to smooth the process,” Ampere Analysis’ Piers Harding-Rolls said.
“However, the provisional Phase 2 findings of the CMA did give me pause for thought considering the structural remedies proposed. Today’s updated findings swings the pendulum back in favour of the deal completing.
“Importantly, the change in stance on lessening of competition in the UK console market means that the requirement for structural remedies are substantially less relevant in my view. It now just remains to be seen how Microsoft and the CMA deal with the concern around cloud gaming services.