Microsoft has achieved another significant victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to complete the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC's latest attempt to block Microsoft's monumental $69 billion deal to acquire the company behind the popular Call of Duty franchise was denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. This decision, announced today, marks a crucial step in finalizing a purchase that was originally announced in late 2022, according to Reuters. The ruling was made by a three-judge panel, effectively concluding the FTC's challenge against the July 2023 decision that had previously allowed Microsoft to proceed with the acquisition.
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been under intense scrutiny for over three years. Initially, several U.S. Senators voiced opposition to the deal, citing concerns over the growing consolidation within the tech industry as Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, expanded its portfolio with significant acquisitions. Amidst worries from competitors and the gaming community that the acquisition might lead to popular franchises like Call of Duty being exclusive to Microsoft platforms, the company assured that it had no plans to restrict these franchises to lengthy exclusivity periods.
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 normal operations, but with its failure, it appears that the regulatory battle has now come to an end.
For a comprehensive timeline detailing Microsoft's journey to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, please click here.
