The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially filed a lawsuit just days after losing its two-year-old objection to Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
FTC sues to block Microsoft’s $69 billion deal to acquire the company behind Call of Duty It was rejected by San Francisco’s 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on May 7thfurther solidify your purchases It was originally announced Second half of 2022. It was a move decided by a panel of three judges who put an end to the FTC questions. Decisions for July 2023 To allow Microsoft to finalize the purchase.
As I summarised at the time, Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard has faced full scrutiny for over three yearsboth in the US and around the world, some parties are concerned about the acquisition of popular franchises like Call of Duty that will become Xbox exclusive. Microsoft confirmed I was not interested in banning certain franchises behind a long exclusivity periodand to meet the UK Competition Agency (CMA) objections, they sold Activision-Blizzard’s cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft.
The challenges continued to arise throughout 2023, but Microsoft has finally achieved Complete your Activision Blizzard purchase October of the same year.
The FTC appeal may have presented a slow obstacle to continuing. However, as reported Bargethe committee has now completely rejected the complaint and stated it simply. Submit Published on May 22: “The Commission has determined that public interest is the best use of by dismissing administrative litigation in this case.”
“On May 7, 2025, the 9th Circuit upheld a U.S. District Court decision of the Northern District of California FTC vs. Microsoft Corp. (…).
“Therefore, this commands that the complaints on this issue have been dismissed.”
You can click on the timeline of all the struggles Microsoft is fighting to complete the acquisition of Activision Blizzard here.
Vikki Blake is an Passthecontroller reporter, critic, columnist and consultant, with over 15 years of experience working with some of the world’s largest gaming sites and publications. She is also a Guardian, Spartan, Silent Hellian, Legend, and constantly high chaos. Find her Blue skiing.
