Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard just got a clear from another country.
In a new statement released recently, South Africa’s Competition Commission has said that the upcoming Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal is unlikely to result in a substantial lessening of competition. The watchdog is actually not concerned about the possibility of making Call of Duty exclusive to Xbox if the deal goes through.
“The Commission found that the proposed transaction is unlikely to result in significant foreclosure concerns as the parties do not have the ability and incentive to foreclose competing game distributors, particularly Sony (PlayStation) and Nintendo (Switch),” said the Commission. “Therefore, the Commission found that the proposed transaction is unlikely to result in a substantial prevention or lessening of competition in any relevant markets. The Commission further found that the proposed transaction does not raise any substantial public interest concerns.”
South Africa is the sixth country to approve the Microsoft Activision Blizzard deal. The other countries are Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Serbia, Chile, and Japan.