Microsoft has achieved another legal triumph against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected the FTC's appeal to halt Microsoft's monumental $69 billion deal for the company behind the iconic Call of Duty franchise, according to Reuters. This decision by a three-judge panel puts an end to the FTC's challenge against the July 2023 ruling that permitted Microsoft to proceed with the acquisition, initially announced in late 2022.
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 growing consolidation within the tech industry as Microsoft expanded its portfolio with major acquisitions. Concerns were particularly high among competitors and gamers who feared that popular franchises like Call of Duty might become exclusive to Microsoft's platforms. However, Microsoft alleviated these concerns by stating that it had no intention of enforcing long exclusivity periods for certain 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 that year. The FTC's appeal posed a potential last-minute obstacle, but with its dismissal, the FTC's efforts to block the deal have concluded.
For a comprehensive timeline detailing Microsoft's journey to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, you can click here.
