June 19th, 2023: Remember the fun and iconic mobile game Candy Crush? A freemium game from King, first released on April 12, 2012, Candy Crush captured the hearts and attention of players worldwide thanks to its easy and fun gameplay and exciting visuals. Reviewers positively received it, and it was a Game of the Year for some publications worldwide.
But today, things are uneasy in the Candyworld with news that Candy Crush will no longer become available, at least for UK players. According to multiple news reports, talks are in place to remove Candy Crush, alongside other games like Call of Duty and Diablo, due to the ongoing talks with Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.
So, what’s the buzz?
In January 2022, Activision Blizzard and Microsoft announced a deal where the latter aims to acquire the former for a massive £ 55 billion. The deal is one of the biggest in the gaming industry and covers some of history’s most popular and profitable games. Activision is one of the biggest gaming companies in the world and owns several exciting games. Also, the company comprises at least three studios, Activision, Blizzard, and King Games, which owns Candy Crush Saga.
Due to the size of the deal and the stakeholders involved, many governments, including the UK, are re-evaluating the deal due to concerns about monopolization. Microsoft is also a major player in the gaming industry, and it owns several studios, including Destiny’s Bungie and Minecraft’s Mojang.
For some insiders, a move by Microsoft to purchase Activision will create a monopoly. And we all know that a monopolistic market, such as video game players, can harm end users. If it happens, Microsoft can unilaterally make decisions, including the prices for games and consoles, and consumers have no other options.
UK’s stand on the acquisition
So far, the deal has been approved in ten regions, including European Union, China, and Japan. We are also waiting for word from Australia, New Zealand, and the United States, and there’s a big chance that the deal will pass. The Competition and Markets Authority of the United Kingdom is the only major regulatory authority that has blocked the deal, but Microsoft can still appeal the decision.
With this situation, Microsoft must wait for the appeal results in July. But of course, other options are possible. For example, Microsoft can continue with the deal and pull out from the UK market.
What are your thoughts on this?