Microsoft's Activision Blizzard deal has been officially blocked

The Microsoft bid to snatch up Activision Blizzard has been ongoing for so long that it feels it could never happen - and as it turns out, we might be closer to that eventuality than ever.

As could come as good news to the higher-ups at Sony and their fans, the attempts for Microsoft to buy the gaming giant has just hit the most impactful and severe roadblock of its existence. This could be the end.

Microsoft blocked from buying Activision Blizzard

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In a shocking turn, the UK's Competition and Markets Authority has entirely blocked the purchase of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. This puts the major Call of Duty deal on ice...at least for now.

The move comes after presumptions that the deal would be finalised this week, and has put a dramatic end to the ongoing spats across the gaming industry about the deal's potential industry monopolisation.

"The CMA has prevented Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision over concerns the deal would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come," reads the final report on the deal.

Microsoft responds to CMA's block

"We remain fully committed to this acquisition and will appeal," says Microsoft's president Brad Smith in a statement. "The CMA’s decision rejects a pragmatic path to address competition concerns and discourages technology innovation and investment in the United Kingdom."

"We have already signed contracts to make Activision Blizzard's popular games available on 150 million more devices, and we remain committed to reinforcing these agreements through regulatory remedies.

"We're especially disappointed that after lengthy deliberations, this decision appears to reflect a flawed understanding of this market and the way the relevant cloud technology actually works."

There could be a very real appeal to this case - but it looks like it has stopped dead for now.