LONDON (AP) — Microsoft’s purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard won final approval Friday from Britain’s competition watchdog…
Microsoft’s purchase of video game maker Activision Blizzard won final approval Friday 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 Competition and Markets Authority’s blessing was expected after it gave preliminary approval last month to a revamped Microsoft proposal meant to address concerns that the deal would harm competition and hurt gamers.
It signals certain victory in the Xbox maker’s quest to acquire Activision, maker of the popular Call of Duty game franchise.
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.
“The new deal will stop Microsoft from locking up competition in cloud gaming as this market takes off, preserving competitive prices and services for UK cloud gaming customers,” the watchdog said.
