Microsoft has achieved another significant victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to complete its 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 to acquire the company behind popular titles like Call of Duty. This decision, announced today, solidifies a transaction that was originally announced in late 2022, as reported by Reuters. The ruling came from a three-judge panel and marks the end of the FTC's challenge against the July 2023 decision that permitted Microsoft to proceed with finalizing its 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 concerns about the growing consolidation within the tech industry, especially as Microsoft expanded its portfolio by acquiring major companies. Both competitors and gamers expressed worries that the deal might lead to popular franchises like Call of Duty becoming exclusive to Microsoft platforms. However, Microsoft reassured stakeholders that it had no plans to restrict these franchises with long exclusivity periods.
Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard
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Despite numerous challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its purchase of Activision Blizzard in October of that year. The FTC's latest appeal posed a potential late obstacle to the deal's completion, but with the appeal's rejection, the FTC's efforts have come to an end.
For a comprehensive timeline detailing Microsoft's journey to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard, you can click here.
