In a highly anticipated decision, China has given its unconditional approval to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This approval marks a significant milestone in the purchase process, as China becomes the 37th country to greenlight the $68.7 billion deal.
The news was confirmed by Microsoft in an official statement, expressing their satisfaction with China’s decision. They also highlighted that this approval adds to other important authorizations, such as those from the European Union and Japan. Microsoft emphasized that, in total, the countries approving the acquisition represent over two billion people worldwide.
The US tech giant sees this acquisition as an opportunity to expand access to gaming content for players worldwide, across various devices. In their statement, Microsoft noted that the combination of acquiring Activision Blizzard with their recent commitment to the European Commission will enable consumers to enjoy a wider range of games on different devices. As a demonstration of their interest in expanding the gaming audience, Microsoft recently launched their first game on Nvidia’s cloud gaming platform, GeForce Now.
China’s approval comes after an extensive investigation during the third phase of the process. While this news is a significant achievement, there are still hurdles in other countries. The United Kingdom has blocked the acquisition and expressed disagreement with the European Commission’s approval. Additionally, the United States has filed a lawsuit to prevent the deal.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard represents a significant step in consolidating the gaming industry. This move will allow Microsoft to strengthen its presence in the market and expand its global reach, while Activision Blizzard will benefit from Microsoft’s resources and expertise to drive the development of innovative and exciting games.
As regulatory obstacles are overcome in different countries, the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft draws closer to its conclusion, promising significant changes in the gaming industry in the years to come.
