On April 28th, 2020, the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) approved Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a leading video game publisher. The acquisition was first announced in September 2019 and has been subject to regulatory approval from various countries.

The NZCC found that the acquisition would not be likely to substantially lessen competition in the New Zealand market. Microsoft’s gaming business, Xbox, is not a major player in the New Zealand market, and Activision Blizzard does not have a significant presence in the country. The NZCC also noted that the acquisition would not be likely to result in any increase in prices or decrease in quality for consumers.

The acquisition will bring together two of the world’s largest gaming companies. Microsoft will gain access to Activision Blizzard’s popular franchises, such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch. It will also gain access to Blizzard’s esports platform, which hosts tournaments for some of the most popular esports games.

The acquisition is part of Microsoft’s larger strategy to expand its gaming business and compete with Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo’s Switch. Microsoft has been investing heavily in its gaming division over the past few years, and the acquisition of Activision Blizzard is a major step forward in this effort.

The NZCC’s approval of the acquisition is an important milestone for Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. It marks the end of a long regulatory process and clears the way for the two companies to move forward with their plans. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of June 2020.

Overall, the NZCC’s approval of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is good news for gamers around the world. The combination of two of the world’s largest gaming companies will create new opportunities for gamers and could lead to more innovative and exciting gaming experiences.