The UK has preliminarily approved the deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has given preliminary approval to the deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, reports The Verge.

Earlier, the British regulator was concerned about the impact of the potential acquisition on competition. However, in August, it became known that Microsoft would sell the rights to cloud streaming of Activision Blizzard games to the French company Ubisoft. This step was to reassure the management.

“The CMA considers that the restructured deal makes important changes that substantially address the concerns it set out in relation to the original transaction earlier this year,” the regulator said in a statement.

After the preliminary decision, the final approval is still to come. The CMA has now launched a consultation, which will last until October 6. A final decision is expected before the deadline for closing the deal, which is October 18. Microsoft and Activision Blizzard are optimistic about this position.

The UK is the last regulatory hurdle for the giant $68.7 billion deal.