March 27, 2023: On Friday, shares of Activision Blizzard rushed after the U.K.’s rival and Markets Authority limited the scope of its investigation into Microsoft’s takeover of the game’s publisher.

The growth marks a partial victory for Microsoft as it pursues expanding its video game firm. The Redmond, Washington-based technology company has deepened its aim on gaming through blockbuster acquisitions, like its purchase of ZeniMax Media, the parent firm of Bethesda Softworks.

In February, the CMA wrote provisional findings from its probe into the seizure, stating that the transaction may come out with higher prices, lesser choices and less innovation. Among its tensions, the regulator flagged that the agreement would cause a substantial lessening of competition in the console gaming market.

Since then, the regulator receiving a “significant amount” of feedback from various industry people on the deal. With this recent evidence, the CMA says that it believes the transaction is hampering rivals in console games.

“Having considered the additional evidence given, we have currently provisionally completed that the merger will not result in a substantial lessening of competition consoling gaming services as the cost to Microsoft of stopping Call of Duty from PlayStation would outweigh any profits from taking such action,” Martin Coleman, chair of the independent panel of experts happening the CMA investigation, said in a report on Friday.

“Our provisional view that this deal increased concerns in the cloud gaming business is not affected by the announcement. Our investigation remains on course by the end of April.”

Shares of Activision Blizzard were up over 5% in today’s trading in the U.S. after surging more than 7% earlier to a new 52-week high. Microsoft’s stock refused slightly during a broad market slump.