The UK has restricted Microsoft and Activision from acquiring an interest in each other after blocking $68.7 billion merger

The UK regulator blocked Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision in April.

AP Photo/Jae C. Hong

• The UK is restricting Microsoft and Activision from acquiring an interest in each other.
• The competition regulator published an interim order to prevent any action without its consent.
• The decision comes weeks after it made a decision to block a $68.7 billion merger between the two.

The UK's competition regulator has issued an interim order to restrict Microsoft and Activision from acquiring an interest in each other.

It comes weeks after the decision by the regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA),  to block a $68.7 billion merger between the two companies.

On Thursday, the CMA published an order that said Microsoft and "Call of Duty" developer Activision would need "prior written consent" from the body before making any acquisitions linked to their respective companies. 

It's the latest move from the UK's watchdog to bring greater scrutiny to the two companies amid fears that the blockbuster deal struck in January 2022 would harm the competition. 

Microsoft, Activision, and the CMA did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. 

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates ...

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