China's State Administration has approved Microsoft's attempted $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, joining a total of 37 regulators including the EU and Japan.
The news was first surfaced today on SeekingAlpha via a Dealreporter item, and has since been confirmed via a statement from a Microsoft spokesperson sent to IGN:
China's unconditional clearance of our acquisition of Activision Blizzard follows clearance decisions from jurisdictions such as the European Union and Japan, bringing the total to 37 countries representing more than two billion people. The acquisition combined with our recent commitments to the European Commission will empower consumers worldwide to play more games on more devices.
Microsoft Acquires Activision Blizzard: The Story So Far
Update 5/22/2023: Activision has also provided a statement to IGN on China's approval of the deal:
We're glad to see China join dozens of other major contries in welcoming more competitions in the gaming industry. SAMR has unconditionally approved our merger with Microsoft, using facts and data to reach the correct conclusion. We are committed to the Chinese market, with many of our amazing players and employees based there, and we look forward to bringing them new choices and benefits as part of this deal.
Original story continues: This news comes just a few days after the European Commission approved the deal in the EU. The one opposing voice thus far remains the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which blocked the deal on the basis of its potential to let Microsoft monopolize a nascent cloud gaming market. Microsoft has stated its intent to appeal the UK's decision.
The deal has yet to be approved in the US, where the Federal Trade Commission is preparing to sort out its ruling in court this August, and legal experts we spoke to are divided as to which was the decision will ultimately fall.
Rebekah Valentine is a senior reporter for IGN. You can find her on Twitter @duckvalentine.