FTC loses appeal vs Microsoft-Activision deal

Microsoft has scored another legal win against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its pursuit of Activision Blizzard.

The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied the FTC's attempt to block Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the Call of Duty publisher today, reinforcing a deal first announced in late 2022 (via Reuters). A three-judge panel rejected the FTC's challenge to the July 2023 ruling that allowed Microsoft to proceed with finalizing its historic purchase.

Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition endured regulatory scrutiny for over three years. Several U.S. senators initially opposed the transaction, raising concerns about excessive consolidation in the tech industry as Xbox's parent company expanded its portfolio. Amid worries from competitors and gamers that franchises like Call of Duty would become Xbox-exclusive, Microsoft assured stakeholders it had no plans to restrict multiplatform releases with prolonged exclusivity.

Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard

Despite ongoing challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully closed its Activision Blizzard deal in October of that year. While the FTC's appeal could have disrupted business operations, today's ruling appears to conclude the regulatory battle.

For a complete timeline of Microsoft's struggles finalizing the Activision Blizzard acquisition, click here.