The UK could become the 'Valley of Death': Bobby Kotick warns UK Competition and Markets Authority against blocking deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is due to publish an interim ruling this week on the deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.

It is highly likely that the UK regulator will oppose the merger of the two giants.

Bobby Kotick, the head of Activision Blizzard, decided to give his opinion on the matter on CNBC.

Here's What We Know

Bobby Kotick has called on the UK Competition and Markets Authority not to obstruct the deal because it (the Authority), in his opinion, is not competent enough in video game industry matters.

The head of Activision Blizzard was not shy in his words, and his words can be interpreted as veiled threats. The businessman recalled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying that the UK should become Europe's Silicon Valley, and stated that the country could instead become the Valley of Death if it did not support his deal.

This threat should be interpreted as a statement of the fact that smart people see the positive effects of a merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, while stupid people will not only oppose the deal, but, by definition, can do no good for their country either.

Kotick argues that the most influential companies in the gaming business are Tencent and ByteDance, and in no way Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.

The situation is heating up...