Microsoft-Activision Blizzard Deal Clears FTC Hurdle

Microsoft has secured another critical win against the Federal Trade Commission in its pursuit to finalize the Activision Blizzard acquisition.

Today, San Francisco's 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the FTC's appeal to block Microsoft's $69 billion deal for the Call of Duty publisher, solidifying a transaction first announced in late 2022 (via Reuters). A three-judge panel ruled on the matter, putting an end to the FTC's challenge of the July 2023 decision that allowed Microsoft to close the purchase.

Microsoft's bid to acquire Activision Blizzard has been under intense scrutiny for over three years. Opposition emerged early from select U.S. Senators, who voiced concerns about increasing consolidation in the tech sector as the Xbox maker expanded its portfolio. As competitors and players worried that popular franchises like Call of Duty might become exclusive, Microsoft publicly committed to not withholding these titles from other platforms.

Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard

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Despite facing numerous challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its purchase of Activision Blizzard in October of that year. The FTC's appeal represented a potential late-stage obstacle to normal operations, but with its failure, the regulatory pursuit appears to have concluded.

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