South Africa's Competition Tribunal has unconditionally approved Microsoft's proposed acquisition

South Africa's Competition Tribunal has unconditionally approved Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the latest regulatory green light for the $69 billion deal.

The decision comes as Microsoft faces antitrust scrutiny in the United States and the United Kingdom. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Microsoft in June to block the acquisition, arguing that it would harm competition in the video game market. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is also investigating the deal.

Microsoft has said that it is confident that the acquisition will be approved by regulators. The company has offered to make concessions to address concerns about competition, such as selling off some of Activision Blizzard's assets.

The approval from South Africa is a positive sign for Microsoft, but it is not a guarantee that the deal will ultimately be completed. The FTC and CMA could still block the acquisition, and Microsoft could also face legal challenges from shareholders or other parties.

The acquisition of Activision Blizzard would be the largest in Microsoft's history and would give the company a major foothold in the video game market. Activision Blizzard is the publisher of popular games such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush Saga.

The deal has been met with mixed reactions from gamers and industry analysts. Some have praised the move, saying that it would allow Microsoft to invest more in gaming and create better games. Others have expressed concern that the deal would give Microsoft too much power in the market and could lead to higher prices for games.