Microsoft has won another legal battle against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its successful acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
A three-judge panel from San Francisco's 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the FTC's appeal to block the $69 billion deal, reinforcing the purchase that was first announced in late 2022 (via Reuters). This ruling ends the FTC's challenge of the July 2023 decision that permitted Microsoft to close the acquisition.
Microsoft's bid to acquire Activision Blizzard faced over three years of widespread scrutiny. Early opponents included several U.S. Senators, who voiced concerns about further consolidation in the tech industry as the Xbox maker expanded its portfolio. Amid worries from competitors and players that franchises like Call of Duty might become platform-exclusive, Microsoft assured the public it had no plans to restrict major franchises to long-term exclusivity.
Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard
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Despite ongoing challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft ultimately closed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October of that year. The FTC's latest appeal represented a potential final obstacle to business-as-usual operations. With this effort now unsuccessful, the regulatory pursuit appears to have concluded.
For a complete timeline of Microsoft's journey to finalize the Activision Blizzard acquisition, click here.
