Microsoft has achieved another significant legal victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to finalize the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC's appeal to halt Microsoft's monumental $69 billion acquisition was decisively denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, marking a pivotal moment in a deal first announced in late 2022 (as reported by Reuters). This ruling by a three-judge panel effectively concludes the FTC's challenge to the July 2023 decision that permitted Microsoft to proceed with the purchase.
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 increasing consolidation within the tech industry as Microsoft expanded its portfolio with significant acquisitions. Both competitors and the gaming community expressed concerns that this deal could restrict popular franchises like Call of Duty to Xbox platforms. However, Microsoft alleviated these fears by stating that it had no plans to enforce extended exclusivity periods for any of its newly acquired franchises.
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 the same year. The FTC's appeal represented a potential last-minute obstacle to the smooth continuation of business, but with the appeal's dismissal, it appears that the FTC's pursuit has come to an end.
For those interested in the detailed timeline of Microsoft's journey to finalize the Activision Blizzard acquisition, please click here.
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