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Microsoft's (NASDAQ:MSFT) planned $69 billion acquisition of Activision received approval from China's antitrust regulator.
China's State Administration for Market Regulation granted unconditional approval for the deal late in a Phase III review, according to a Dealreporter item, which cited sources familiar.
The China approval comes after the European Union also blessed the videogame mega deal on Monday, with conditions. Though China and Europe are important, the UK antitrust regulator's decision to block the deal last month is seen as a large stumbling block that could ultimately lead to its termination.
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission also sued to block the $95 a share deal for Activision in December, with a trial scheduled to start in August.
Activision (NASDAQ:ATVI) CEO Bobby Kotick late last month said that the UK antitrust regulator's decision to block the videogame giant's sale to Microsoft (MSFT) was a "flawed ruling in every respect."