Microsoft Seeks Formal EU Nod for $69 Billion Activision Deal

Microsoft Corp.’s $69 billion planned takeover of Activision Blizzard Inc. faces a European Union merger review deadline of Nov. 8 after the deal was formally notified to regulators.

The transaction was formally notified with the European Commission on Friday, according to the EU’s merger cases website. The moves comes after the UK watchdog’s decision earlier this month to start an in-depth probe of the deal over concerns it could harm competition.

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority said on Sept. 15 that based on the information it had, the deal risks leading to “a substantial lessening of competition” in ...