Microsoft's Zenimax acquisition approved by EU

[Editor's note: This story originally reported erroneously that the merger had also received approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission. We regret the error.]

Microsoft's acquisition of ZeniMax has cleared a significant hurdle on the way toward closing as the European Commission ruled on Friday that it has no objection to the deal.

The decision on the Commission's website simply cites Article 6(1)(b) of the EC Merger Regulation, which states that after examining a potential merger or acquisition, "(b) Where it finds that the concentration notified, although falling within the scope of this Regulation, does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the common market, [the Commission] shall decide not to oppose it and shall declare that it is compatible with the common market."

Microsoft filed its request for approval with the European Commission's antitrust regulators in January.

Microsoft announced its plans to acquire ZeniMax for $7.5 billion back in September, which will grant it ownership of major IP such as The Elder Scrolls, Fallout and Doom.

The platform holder has said it will decide on a case-by-case basis whether to make certain titles exclusive to its own ecosystem, but is honoring previously agreed upon exclusivity agreements, such as Arkane-developed Deathloop coming to PlayStation.