Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Approved by Brazil
Microsoft has received approval from Brazil's CADE to acquire Activision Blizzard. However, the corporation is still waiting for a similar move from several other entities.
Microsoft is getting closer to acquiring Activision Blizzard.
- The approval to acquire the publisher was given by the Brazilian government agency CADE (Administrative Council for Economic Defense), the body charged with ensuring an adequate level of competition in the country's market.
- The agency's decision argues that it sees no reason why this transaction would harm the interests of customers, and that's all CADE cares about.
- Sony has been trying to block the acquisition for some time, but the Brazilian agency explains that its job is not to protect companies from competition in situations where customers' interests are not adversely affected.
- Brazil is the largest gaming market in South America, so CADE's decision is significant.
- The acquisition is still awaiting approvals from analogous authorities in the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union. Saudi Arabia was the first to give its seal of approval to the deal.
Recall that Microsoft has announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard earlier this year. Immediately, questions arose about which of the publisher's brands would become titles exclusive to PC and Xbox consoles. The Redmond giant assures that this fate will not befall Call of Duty, as such a move would cause too much a loss of players.
Sony does not fully believe in such declarations, especially since Microsoft guarantees the availability of CoD on PS consoles for only a few years. A few days ago we reported that PlayStation chief Jim Ryan was scheduled to go to the European Parliament to express his concerns about Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The Redmond-based company seems confident and the Brazilian agency's decision shows that they have good reason to do so. Still, the fact that the acquisition needs approval from three more entities makes nothing a foregone conclusion.
