Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Deal Could Be Approved Next Month

thegamer.com:

Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard could receive regulatory approval next month. This would be well ahead of schedule, with previous estimates putting the merger's finalization date in June, 2023.

The deal will go ahead as early as this August if the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) doesn't request any further information from either party. This suggests that the regulator has either dismissed objections from workers unions, or is satisfied with the response from Activision Blizzard and Microsoft.

Related: Activision Being A Summer Game Fest Partner Proves Our Industry Has No Morals

Multiple outlets are reporting that Microsoft responded to the FTC's second request for documentation this week. If nothing else is asked of them in 30 days, then the deal will automatically have the approval it needs from the US regulator.

This comes after a lengthy approval process from the FTC, with the Communications Workers of America union frequently urging the regulator not to rush the deal. While it's not known if this was the cause, both Activision and Microsoft have since expressed their willingness to cooperate with unions.

Of course, the FTC's stamp of approval isn't the only green light the two media giants will need in order for the deal to go forward. The EU and the UK will have to approve the deal too, the latter of which is already investigating whether the deal would damage the industry. However, Microsoft president Brad Smith has recently said that the deal is "moving fast", even with the level of scrutiny it has received, so approval being given next month wouldn't be too surprising.

It's also worth noting that Sony's acquisition of Bungie was finalized relatively quickly. The Microsoft competitor's deal received