Microsoft has achieved another significant win against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its pursuit to acquire Activision Blizzard. The FTC's appeal to halt Microsoft's monumental $69 billion acquisition of the company responsible for the renowned Call of Duty franchise was decisively denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. This ruling, delivered by a three-judge panel, definitively concluded the FTC's challenge against the July 2023 decision that permitted Microsoft to proceed with the acquisition, originally announced in late 2022 (via Reuters).
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been under intense scrutiny for over three years, with notable opposition coming from various U.S. Senators who were among the first to voice concerns about the ongoing consolidation within the tech industry. As Microsoft expanded its portfolio to include more major companies, there were widespread fears among competitors and gamers that popular franchises like Call of Duty might become exclusive to Xbox platforms. However, Microsoft alleviated these concerns by confirming 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 facing numerous challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October. The FTC's appeal posed a potential late-stage obstacle, but with its rejection, it appears the regulatory body's efforts to block the deal have come to an end.
For a comprehensive timeline detailing Microsoft's journey to finalize the Activision Blizzard acquisition, click here.
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