Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Receives Approval from China

Microsoft has announced that its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been given the green light in China. According to a statement provided to GamesIndustry.biz, a Microsoft spokesperson noted that this decision follows similar approvals from the European Union and Japan, bringing the total number of countries to 37, covering over two billion people. The spokesperson added that the acquisition, combined with Microsoft's commitments to the European Commission, will provide consumers worldwide with greater access to games across various devices. Initially, it was reported that China's antitrust regulator had approved the $68.7 billion deal after conducting a Phase 3 investigation, as cited by Dealreporter. This approval follows those from Ukraine, Japan, Brazil, Chile, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, South Africa, and the European Union. However, the acquisition still faces regulatory hurdles in the UK and the US, where authorities have taken steps to block the deal.