Microsoft’s purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard has won final approval from Britain’s competition watchdog
FILE - A sign is seen outside the Activision building in Santa Monica, Calif. on June 21, 2023. Microsoft’s purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard won final approval Friday, Oct. 13, from Britain’s competition watchdog, reversing its earlier decision to block the $69 billion deal and removing a last obstacle for one of the largest tech transactions in history.
The companies had agreed to extend an original mid-July deadline to Oct. 18 to overcome the British regulator’s objections. The approval also helps Microsoft avoid paying Activision a $4.5 billion penalty if the deal doesn't close. Since the deal was announced in January 2022, Microsoft has secured approvals from antitrust authorities covering more than 40 countries. Crucially, it got a thumbs-up from the 27-nation European Union after agreeing to allow users and cloud gaming platforms to stream its titles without paying royalties for 10 years.
In the meantime, the U.K. regulator was the last major obstacle to the transaction going through. The CMA’s approval came after Microsoft updated its offer in August.
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