South Korea Approves Microsoft Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

The Korea Fair Trade Commission has officially approved Microsoft’s proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. This regulatory clearance marks a significant milestone for the merger, as South Korea joins a growing list of international jurisdictions—including the European Union, Japan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Chile, and Ukraine—that have sanctioned the deal. Additionally, China’s State Administration for Market Regulation recently granted unconditional approval for the acquisition, further bolstering the momentum behind the transaction.

Despite these widespread international approvals, the merger faces continued scrutiny in several key markets. Regulatory bodies in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand have yet to issue final rulings, with New Zealand’s decision anticipated in early June 2023. Furthermore, the deal remains contested in the United Kingdom, where Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are actively appealing a previous decision by the Competition and Markets Authority to block the merger. South Africa is also currently reviewing the acquisition, with a final determination expected by late June 2023.

The reporting relies on official regulatory announcements and industry-standard legal tracking sources to monitor the global progress of this high-profile acquisition. By documenting the shifting landscape of international antitrust approvals, the analysis highlights the complex, multi-jurisdictional nature of the deal as it nears its conclusion. The ongoing regulatory process underscores the significant influence that national competition authorities continue to exert over large-scale consolidation within the global gaming and technology sectors.