Regulation

Competition watchdog racks up £1.2m bill as Microsoft-Activision probe rumbles on

CMA staff have spent 23,596 hours on the probe amid a tougher approach by the competition watchdog

Microsoft and the antitrust regulator are in a battle over mega tech deal
Microsoft and the antitrust regulator are in a battle over mega tech deal Photo: Getty Images

Staff at the UK's competition watchdog have racked up tens of thousands of hours and a seven-figure bill as a landmark battle to stop gaming's biggest-ever takeover continues.

The Competition and Markets Authority has spent at least £1.2m investigating Microsoft's bid to buy Activision, the maker of hit games including Call of Duty, according to a Freedom of Information Act request from Financial News.

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