The European Commission (EC) has approved Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the US video game publisher Activision Blizzard. Activision Blizzard is the world's largest video game publisher, with hit franchises such as "Call of Duty", "World of Warcraft", and "Candy Crush". The acquisition, which was first announced in late October, was cleared by the EC on the condition that Microsoft divest itself of certain assets, including the "Halo" franchise.
The approval of the deal is a major victory for Microsoft, which has been seeking to expand its presence in the gaming market. It also represents a major shift in the video game industry, as the two largest publishers (Microsoft and Activision Blizzard) will now be owned by the same company.