I think Microsofts best option is to end this cleanly. Whether it's by dropping the deal or successfully going through the appeal process. If they do anything illegal its going to look extremely bad for them. And potentially endanger any future acquisitions they want to make. Worst case scenario is that they kill off Xbox due to this. Nobody wants to see them eliminated from the market due to their desperation.
Microsoft can't do anything by themselves anyway if it's not agreed with Activision and their shareholders in a contract.
What we're seeing here with certain articles are signs of desperation because they don't see a likely future for this deal past July.
They're making a series of scattered last ditch efforts to see if there is way to close this in the original time frame.
The problem for them is that there isn't.
They can't avoid the appeal process and CMA going back to the case if they want a new judgement.
They can't do idiotic things like going ahead without the UK if they don't re-negotiate the contract with Activision and get shareholders approval.
I think there is a 50:50 chance this is over in July.