I can’t believe anyone would approve it to begin with…

The main reason it didn’t face as much resistance is how far behind Sony (and IMO Nintendo) Microsoft is in this console generation. And the merger was still really close to not happening at all despite there being no chance that it turns MS into anything resembling a monopoly.

And since AB isn’t really a platform in the same way Microsoft/Sony/Nintendo are it’s not as though it’s directly reducing competition in that market.

And blocking the merger also benefits the market leader in the space.

And MS is a US company, while Sony isn’t (which matters in the context of the FTC).

I would argue it is silly, regardless of the explanation. Every culture has silly things, but that doesn’t make them somehow not silly.

Can’t believe this actually happened.