FTC Fails in Appeal Against Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Microsoft has achieved another significant victory against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its efforts to finalize the 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, which was originally announced in late 2022, according to Reuters. This ruling by a three-judge panel has effectively ended the FTC's challenge to the July 2023 decision that permitted Microsoft to proceed with its acquisition.

The proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been under intense scrutiny for over three years. Early opposition came from a group of U.S. Senators who expressed concerns about the growing consolidation within the tech industry as Microsoft expanded its portfolio. Both competitors and gamers raised fears that popular franchises such as Call of Duty might become exclusive to Microsoft platforms. However, Microsoft alleviated these concerns by stating it had no interest in barring certain franchises behind lengthy exclusivity periods.

Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard

View 70 ImagesDespite ongoing challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its purchase of Activision Blizzard in October. The FTC's appeal posed a potential last-minute obstacle to normal operations, but with the appeal now rejected, it appears the FTC's pursuit has come to an end.

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