It seems that the dispute between Sony and Microsoft has reached a turning point. As announced by many observers, the first official go-ahead for the process has in fact arrived acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
To express itself in a favorable sense is the Fair Trade Commission of Japan, which published its definitive opinion on the morning of Tuesday 28 March. After a long investigation that involved the interested parties but also third parties and experts in the video game market, the body has in fact concluded that the entry of Activision Blizzard into the Xbox orbit “it does not constitute a material restriction of competition“. Consequently, the Japanese Fair Trade Commission does not oppose the conclusion of the operation, announced by the Redmond giant now over a year ago.
The process of examining the acquisition of the publisher by Microsoft thus officially comes to an end in Japan, whose authorities have informed the parties involved of the decision taken. It comes like this a first, very important, green light for the completion of the acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft Game Studios. Waiting to find out what the responses of the other national bodies will be, the Green Crusade leadership can celebrate the finish line.
Meanwhile, new controversies are breaking out in the USA regarding Sony’s exclusivity policy on the Japanese market.
