Microsoft has achieved another significant win against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its pursuit to acquire Activision Blizzard. The FTC's attempt to block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the company behind Call of Duty was denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. This decision, announced today, solidifies the deal that was initially announced in late 2022, as reported by Reuters. The ruling came from a three-judge panel, effectively concluding the FTC's challenge to the July 2023 decision that permitted Microsoft to proceed with the acquisition.
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 expressed concerns about the increasing consolidation within the tech industry as Microsoft expanded its portfolio. Both competitors and gamers raised alarms over the potential for popular franchises like Call of Duty to become exclusive to Microsoft platforms. However, Microsoft reassured the public that it had no plans to restrict certain franchises with long 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 represented a potential final hurdle, but with its rejection, the FTC's efforts appear to have reached their end.
For a detailed timeline of Microsoft's journey to finalize the Activision Blizzard acquisition, you can click here.
