FTC drops case against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal
1 min read
Summary
Microsoft won its bid to acquire Activision Blizzard back in July 2023, in a deal worth $68.7bn, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) subsequently appealed the decision.
An appeals court has now denied the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction, thus allowing the acquisition to go ahead.
The FTC has now officially withdrawn its case, saying it is in the public interest to do so.
Microsoft president Brad Smith welcomed the decision, stating that it was a victory for gamers and common sense.
The deal will give Microsoft exclusive franchises such as Call of Duty, which will be available on the Xbox platform and rival consoles for 10 years.
It will also make Microsoft the third largest gaming company in the world, behind Tencent and Sony.