Microsoft has secured another legal victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its pursuit of acquiring Activision Blizzard.
The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco today rejected the FTC's motion to block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the Call of Duty publisher (via Reuters), reinforcing a deal initially announced in early 2022. A three-judge panel's decision effectively ended the FTC's challenge to last July's ruling permitting the acquisition's completion.
Microsoft's Activision Blizzard purchase has faced intense regulatory scrutiny for over three years. Several U.S. senators were early opponents, expressing concerns about tech industry consolidation as Microsoft expanded its portfolio. Amid fears that popular franchises might become Xbox exclusives, Microsoft maintained its commitment to keeping titles like Call of Duty available across platforms.
Major Gaming Franchises Now Under Xbox Ownership
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Despite ongoing challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft finalized the Activision Blizzard acquisition in October. While the FTC's appeal threatened to disrupt operations, its failure likely marks the end of major regulatory obstacles.
For a detailed timeline of Microsoft's acquisition journey, click here.
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