Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of ZeniMax approved by SEC and the EU Commission

The EU Commission has approved Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of game publisher ZeniMax (which owns Bethesda and several other studios). In the US, the SEC also gave the deal a green light with a Notice of Effectiveness (S-4, which means a merger or acquisition has been approved).

After the deal closes, Microsoft will allow ZeniMax to run semi-independently with its current leadership. One thing that will change is that games developed by ZeniMax-owned studios will be available to play through the Xbox Game Pass subscription. Also, Microsoft will nudge Bethesda to ensure its games…