On October 8th, 2020, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, one of the world’s largest video game publishers. The acquisition, which was announced in September 2019, is valued at $7.5 billion and will see Microsoft take ownership of some of the world’s most popular video game franchises, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Overwatch.

The CMA’s decision to approve the acquisition was based on its assessment that the deal would not substantially reduce competition in the UK market. The CMA noted that the merger would not lead to a significant reduction in choice for consumers, as there are many other video game publishers in the UK market. Furthermore, the CMA found that the merger would not lead to a significant increase in prices for consumers, as the combined entity would still face competition from other publishers.

The acquisition is part of Microsoft’s larger strategy to become a major player in the video game industry. Microsoft has been investing heavily in its Xbox gaming platform, and the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will give it access to some of the most popular video game franchises in the world. The acquisition will also give Microsoft access to Activision Blizzard’s extensive library of games, which includes over 500 titles.

The acquisition is expected to be finalized by the end of 2020. Once the deal is complete, Microsoft will become one of the largest video game publishers in the world. This could have a major impact on the industry, as Microsoft will be able to leverage its large customer base and extensive resources to develop new games and expand its presence in the market.

Overall, the UK’s CMA has approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, paving the way for one of the largest deals in the video game industry. The acquisition is expected to be completed by the end of 2020 and could have a major impact on the industry going forward.