Microsoft closes $69 billion Activision deal after Britain's nod

FILE PHOTO: Microsoft logo is seen on a smartphone placed on displayed Activision Blizzard's games characters in this illustration taken January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration//File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) - Xbox maker Microsoft closed its $69 billion deal for Activision Blizzard on Friday, swelling its heft in the video-gaming market with best-selling titles including "Call of Duty" to better compete with industry leader Sony.

Originally unveiled in January 2022, the biggest deal in the gaming industry cleared its final big hurdle - an approval from Britain - earlier in the day after Microsoft agreed to sell streaming rights for Activision's games to allay competition concerns.