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Illustration: Megan Robinson/Axios
The biggest video game companies are gobbling up the competition faster than ever while so far escaping significant resistance from antitrust regulators.
Why it matters: Gaming has grown into one of the world's largest media industries but has yet to face the scrutiny other tech sectors routinely encounter over how business practices affect competition, consumers or workers.
State of play: The two largest acquisitions in video game history have happened since 2022 began, and 2021 saw over 250 gaming deals, totaling over $38 billion.
Deals in Big Tech and media now routinely face hurdles from regulators, lawmakers and activist groups.
Yes, but: Although game industry titans may have free rein to close deals. they're still keeping a close eye on their watchdogs.
And for all the bluster, regulators and lawmakers have mostly focused their antitrust ire at Big Tech and let other mega content deals pass.
The big picture: Defining what constitutes a monopoly or stifles competition in an industry can be tricky — especially in a fragmented field like games.
Microsoft has been clear that it’s after Blizzard Activision for the mobile gaming footprint the acquisition will provide.
Flashback: The video game world has long been defined by rivalries and arms races — think Nintendo vs. Sega, or Xbox vs. Playstation.
What’s next: In a seemingly make or break moment, Congress is considering a few antitrust bills that could make things complicated for future acquisitions — in gaming as everywhere else in tech.
Team USA's Chloe Kim celebrates as she wins the snowboard women's halfpipe final run during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Zhangjiakou, China, on Thursday morning local time. Photo: Marco Bertorello/AFP via Getty Images
? Team USA wins gold in mixed team aerials
? U.S. snowboarder Chloe Kim makes history with second Olympic gold
?? Nathan Chen wins men's figure skating Olympic gold for U.S.
????????? Legal issue delays Olympic team figure skating medal ceremony
? In photos: Winter Olympics Day 6 highlights
Protesters in Ontario, Canada, yesterday block a highway to the Blue Water Bridge border crossing, a key trade artery to the U.S. Photo: Carlos Osorio/Reuters
A Department of Homeland Security bulletin warns law enforcement across the U.S. that a convoy of truckers protesting vaccine mandates, similar to protests in Canada, could begin soon in the U.S., CNN reports.
Driving the news: A DHS official told Yahoo News truckers could "follow the Canadian model and shut down Washington."
Cover: Penguin Press
While President Trump was in office, staff in the White House residence periodically discovered wads of printed paper clogging a toilet — and believed the president had flushed pieces of paper, Maggie Haberman scoops in her forthcoming book, "Confidence Man."
Why it matters: The revelation by Haberman, whose coverage as a New York Times White House correspondent was followed obsessively by Trump, adds a vivid new dimension to his lapses in preserving government documents. Axios was provided an exclusive first look at some of her reporting.
