Microsoft has achieved another significant victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to finalize the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied the FTC's appeal to block Microsoft's monumental $69 billion deal, announced in late 2022, to purchase the company behind popular titles like Call of Duty (via Reuters). This decision by a three-judge panel marks the end of the FTC's challenge to the July 2023 ruling that permitted Microsoft to proceed with the acquisition.
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been under intense scrutiny for over three years, with initial opposition coming from several U.S. Senators who raised concerns about the growing consolidation within the tech industry. As Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, expanded its portfolio, worries emerged among competitors and gamers that key franchises, such as Call of Duty, might become exclusive to Microsoft platforms. In response, Microsoft reassured the public that it had no intention of restricting access to major franchises through extended exclusivity deals.
Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard
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Despite ongoing challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October of that year. The FTC's appeal posed a potential last-minute hurdle to the deal's completion, but with its dismissal, the FTC's efforts to block the acquisition appear to have concluded.
For a comprehensive timeline detailing Microsoft's journey to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, you can click here.
