FTC Fails in Appeal Against Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Microsoft has achieved another significant legal victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its effort to complete the acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC's latest appeal to halt Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the company behind the popular game franchise Call of Duty was denied by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. This decision, handed down by a three-judge panel, finalizes the July 2023 ruling that allowed Microsoft to proceed with the purchase, which was initially announced in late 2022 (via Reuters).

The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been under intense scrutiny for over three years. Initially, several U.S. Senators voiced opposition to the deal, citing concerns over the increasing consolidation within the tech industry as Microsoft, the maker of Xbox, continued to expand its portfolio. Fears that popular franchises like Call of Duty might become exclusive to Microsoft platforms were widespread among competitors and gamers. In response, Microsoft assured that it had no plans to restrict these franchises with long exclusivity periods.

Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard

View 70 ImagesDespite ongoing challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft was able to finalize its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October. The FTC's recent appeal threatened to disrupt the normal continuation of business, but with its rejection, the regulatory challenge appears to be concluded.

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