For the first time in the world, Saudi Arabia approved Microsoft Xbox to acquire game maker Activision Blizzard.

CTOnews.com Saudi Arabia has now become the first country in the world to recognize and approve Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and Saudi competition regulators have just announced approval of the acquisition, allowing the deal to proceed, at least in Saudi Arabia.

According to Saudi Arabia,"the Directorate General for Competition has announced that it has no objection to the completion of the merger process between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard." The Saudi move may surprise some, but the deal is widely expected to close sometime this month, even in the U.S. region. The FTC is currently reviewing the merger.

In July, Microsoft said the Federal Trade Commission might approve Microsoft Xbox's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in August.

A deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard could materialize as early as August, with numerous IPs, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and Old Wolf, becoming part of Microsoft's Xbox.

In January, Microsoft announced that it would buy game developer and interactive entertainment content publisher Activision Blizzard for $95 a share for a total of $68.7 billion, which is expected to close in fiscal 2023. It would be the most expensive acquisition Microsoft has ever traded for.

Microsoft: Activision Blizzard's games are not "unique"

Sony's "tripping" to Microsoft Xbox: Unable to make a game comparable to Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty