Microsoft has achieved another significant victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC's appeal to halt Microsoft's monumental $69 billion deal to purchase the company behind the iconic Call of Duty franchise was firmly denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. This decision marks a crucial step forward for a transaction that was originally announced in late 2022, according to Reuters. The ruling, handed down by a three-judge panel, puts an end to the FTC's challenge against the July 2023 decision that permitted Microsoft to proceed with its acquisition.
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been under intense scrutiny for over three years. Early opposition came from select U.S. Senators who raised alarms about the ongoing consolidation within the tech industry, particularly as Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, continued to expand its portfolio by acquiring major companies. Concerns from competitors and the gaming community centered around fears that popular franchises like Call of Duty might become exclusive to Microsoft platforms. However, Microsoft has reassured stakeholders that it has no interest in barring certain franchises behind lengthy exclusivity periods.
Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard
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Despite facing numerous challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its purchase of Activision Blizzard in October of that year. The FTC's appeal posed a potential late obstacle to seamless operations, but with its rejection, it appears that the regulatory body's efforts to block the deal have come to an end.
For a comprehensive timeline detailing all the hurdles Microsoft faced in finalizing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, you can click here.
