Did someone say The Office Of Fair Trading?

In a move that will make sense to a lot of observers, Future Publishing's takeover bid of rival magazine publisher Highbury House was referred to the competition watchdog, the Competition Commission. Future's �95 million offer would reportedly lead to a "substantial lessening of competition" in the videogames magazine market, said the OFT in a statement today.

Future, publishers of titles like Edge and NGC, would become the UK's third largest magazine producer if the Highbury deal goes through, increasing their publication portfolio to around 180 titles. The commission's report is expected by this September.