£55bn Microsoft-Activision Blizzard merger approved by EU despite UK rejection

A $69bn (£55bn) deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard has been approved by EU regulators, just weeks after it was blocked by the UK. Microsoft, who owns game console company Xbox, plans to buy the Call of Duty Publisher and expand its growing network of game developers which already includes Bethesda Game Studios (Fallout series) and Mojang Studios (Minecraft).

The European Commission said that the tech company had addressed their concerns around competition issues and the potential of Microsoft owning a significant portion of the gaming market. The decision comes three weeks after the merger was blocked by the UK over concerns that the deal would hurt competition in the cloud gaming market.