UK Antitrust Authority to Revive Cloud Gaming Inquiry in January

The Competition and Markets Authority in the UK is set to recommence its probe into the cloud gaming and mobile browser sectors on January 24, following a temporary halt in May due to objections from Apple and Google, as well as a dispute with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal. However, Apple failed to meet its deadline to raise further objections. This development comes after the regulator resumed its investigation in October into whether Apple and Google's dominance in mobile web browsers is stifling competition. The CMA had previously announced a Phase 2 inquiry in November 2022 to examine the business practices of these tech giants, including Apple's restrictions on cloud gaming on its iOS platform. The regulator's concerns regarding cloud gaming were a major factor in its initial decision to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which led to Microsoft offering an revised deal involving the sale of Activision Blizzard's gaming rights to Ubisoft. The UK regulator has since given the revised deal its approval.