FTC Fails to Block Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Deal

Microsoft has secured another significant victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its ongoing efforts to acquire 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 purchase the company behind the popular Call of Duty franchise. This decision, announced today, upholds the July 2023 ruling that allowed Microsoft to proceed with the acquisition, which was initially announced in late 2022, as reported by Reuters.

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 increasing consolidation within the tech industry as Microsoft expanded its portfolio. The acquisition sparked fears among competitors and gamers that franchises like Call of Duty might become exclusive to Microsoft platforms. However, Microsoft alleviated these concerns by confirming that it had no plans to restrict popular franchises to exclusivity deals.

Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard

View 70 ImagesDespite facing numerous challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October of that year. The FTC's recent appeal posed a potential late-stage hurdle, but with its dismissal, the regulatory battle appears to be over.

For a comprehensive timeline detailing Microsoft's journey to finalize the Activision Blizzard acquisition, click here.