After the EU win this week, the Microsoft-Activision deal has now been unconditionally cleared by Chinese regulators. The approval came late in a Phase III review, and leaves only the UK and US as the remaining major markets the deal is yet to be greenlit in.

• Related Reading: Microsoft-Activision Deal Approved in the EU

After receiving approvals in a number of markets including South Africa, Saudi Arabia, and even rival Sony’s home of Japan, the Microsoft-Activision deal faced its first major setback when the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) blocked the deal in the region on the basis of unresolved cloud gaming concerns. Interestingly, the European Commission chose to clear the deal in the EU earlier this week, having also found issues in the deal concerning the cloud gaming market but deeming Microsoft’s proposed remedies satisfactory.

According to sources familiar with the Chinese regulatory proceedings, the acquisition has now been unconditionally approved in China late into a Phase III review by the State Administration for Market Regulation. However, Microsoft still needs to successfully appeal the CMA’s verdict in the UK and win its ongoing legal battles against the FTC in the US in order to make the deal happen without pulling its business out of both markets. Stay tuned here at MP1st for all upcoming news and announcements about the Microsoft-Activision deal.

Source: Seeking Alpha