Activision Blizzard purchase gets the green light in South Africa

While the CCSA's approval is a win for Microsoft in its quest to acquire one of the biggest game publishers in the world, it is a small one. The tech behemoth is still awaiting the decision of the US's Federal Trade Commission, the European Commission, and the UK's Competitions and Markets Authority. Without these entities, which represent some of the largest markets in the world, giving their approval, the merger will likely fall through.

Since Microsoft announced its plans to acquire the game publisher, rival console manufacturer Sony has raised a ruckus and done all within its power to stop it. Sony's primary concern was that Microsoft will make the Call of Duty franchise, Activision Blizzard's biggest IP and one of the best-selling video game franchises ever, exclusive to its Xbox platform. However, Microsoft has since denied the claim stating that there is no financial incentive to make the franchise exclusive. The company offered Sony a deal that will see it distribute the title to thePlayStation console for 10 years.

However, this overture didn't appease Sony which claimed thatMicrosoft will only release broken versions of the title for the PlayStation. Despite Sony's continued resistance, Microsoft's proposed merger seems to be gaining ground. Prior to South Africa's approval, six UK studios registered their support for Microsoft's acquisition when the CMA sought their opinion.

By the way, Microsoft is getting support for its acquisition from unlikely quarters. Earlier this month, a US Senator accused Sony of "exclusionary practices" and asked that the company provide unredacted copies of its exclusive distribution rights agreements with third-party developers, among other things.