Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been a topic of ongoing discussion for quite some time. So much so that the agreement, which was extended by both companies until October 18th, is expected to yield a positive outcome. Most recently, Microsoft’s acquisition proposal was officially approved by the New Zealand Commerce Commission.

New Zealand approves Activision Blizzard deal

As you may know, Microsoft’s deal with Activision Blizzard has stirred both excitement and concerns in the gaming world. Sony, for instance, expressed significant worries about the impact on Playstation’s presence with games like Call of Duty, and various regulatory bodies raised objections to the deal. However, today, the New Zealand Commerce Commission has formally approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This brings the total number of countries where the deal has been approved to 42, following Turkey and New Zealand.

Earlier, New Zealand had voiced some concerns about the deal. Nevertheless, it appears that these concerns have been addressed. In a press release accompanying the announcement, Commission Chairman Dr. John Small stated:

“While Activision games, especially Call of Duty, are popular among New Zealand gamers, our research revealed that Call of Duty does not hold critical importance for competing with Microsoft.”

Regarding the matter, Microsoft’s Vice President and President Brad Smith said, “With the approval received today from New Zealand, we now have the authority to proceed with the acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 41 countries. We will continue to work to address any remaining concerns and finalize this agreement.”

Currently, the only hurdle in Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) of the United Kingdom. The CMA had previously made a decision to block the deal, but after the U.S. court’s decision left the UK in opposition, the institution announced that it would reconsider the acquisition. The CMA will complete its re-examination process on August 29th.

As mentioned above, Microsoft’s proposal to acquire Activision Blizzard is expected to conclude by October 18th. However, if the transaction is terminated after August 29th, Activision Blizzard would pay a termination fee of $3.5 billion, and if terminated after September 15th, the fee would be $4.5 billion. It’s important to note that this payment would only apply upon the deal’s closure.

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