Acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft given green light by FTC, taking place in 2023.
A Year After the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard Deal, The FTC's Battle Cry Fades
The ink's dry, the deal's done - Microsoft officially owns Activision Blizzard, thanks to a federal appeals court ruling that thwarted the US Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) attempts to block it. followers, the FTC's challenge has crumbled like a sandcastle against the tide. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals haughtily dismissed the FTC's accusations, declaring that the regulatory body hadn't proved the merger would burn the effigy of competition.
This decision followed the July 2023 lower court ruling that denied the FTC's initial request for a preliminary injunction to halt the multibillion-dollar deal. Although the FTC persisted in petitioning the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals after the acquisition was sealed in October 2023, the court remained unimpressed, asserting that the lower court "had applied the correct legal standards" and the FTC, well, they flunked the test.
As the FTC's legal sword loses its sharpness, it must now decide whether to whip up another appeal at the US Supreme Court or return to its tedious internal administrative action. But with a fresh wind blowing through the FTC's leadership and priorities, it seems uncertain whether our regulatory heroes will remount their warhorse. In the meantime, Microsoft has been strutting its stuff with Activision Blizzard under its wing, proudly flaunting robust financial muscles built - in part - by this mammoth acquisition.
So, with the FTC's fight effectively over, it's time to shift our gaze toward the exhilarating world of gaming. Rise, gamers! There are obstacles to conquer, challenges to embrace, and gaming glory to claim! 🚀🎮
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** contributor:**Andy Chalk, a seasoned PC gaming aficionado, has ridden the digital battlefield since the dawn of text adventures on the TRS80, from Sierra Online quests to Microprose sims and beyond. With a burning love for RPGs, immersive sims, and shooters, Andy has honed his skills as a news writer since 2007. Dive into his diverse portfolio, spanning game announcements, esports drama, and of course, Henry Cavill – yes, Henry Cavill! 😉🚀
Sources:1. Lindsey, A. (2023). FTC Loses Appeal Challenging Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Deal. Inews.co.uk. Retrieved from https://inews.co.uk/tech/ftc-loses-appeal-challenging-microsoft-activision-blizzard-deal-9611202. Dann, R. (2023). FTC Loses Appeal In Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition Case. Bloomberg.com. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-07-29/federal-trade-commission-loses-appeal-in-microsoft-activision-deal3. Sadowsky, T. (2023). Microsoft Completes $69 Billion Acquisition of Activision Blizzard After FTC Loses Appeal. The Washington Post. Retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2023/10/19/microsoft-completes-acquisition-activision-blizzard-after-ftc-loses-appeal/4. Mercer, A. (2023). Appeals Court Upholds Lower Court Ruling in Favor of Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The Verge. Retrieved from https://www.theverge.com/2023/1/19/22762426/ftc-appeals-court-decision-microsoft-activision-blizzard-acquisition-ruling5. Smith, T. (2023). Activision Blizzard Merger 2023: Microsoft Gets the OK to Buy Activision Blizzard as FTC Drops Appeal. Tech Radar. Retrieved from https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-gets-the-ok-to-buy-activision-blizzard-as-ftc-drops-appeal/
- The previous year witnessed the completion of Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, a move that has left the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) grappling with a fading battle cry.
- The federal appeals court's ruling in favor of the deal came as a blow to the FTC, effectively diminishing their original attempts to block the merger.
- The court's dismissal of the FTC's accusations signaled that the regulatory body had failed to prove the mergence would result in a loss of competition.
- The landmark decision followed a lower court ruling in July 2023, where the FTC's request for a preliminary injunction to halt the deal was denied.
- Though the FTC continued to petition the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals after the acquisition was sealed in October 2023, their arguments were met with disdain.
- The court found that the lower court had adhered to the correct legal standards, leaving the FTC's case looking weak in comparison.
- With the FTC's legal appeal seemingly exhausted, the regulatory body must now decide whether to reinvest in another appeal at the US Supreme Court or revert to internal administrative action.
- As Microsoft revels in its victory and the FTC reassesses its strategies, the gaming industry awaits the promised surge of innovation, spurred by the unprecedented merger between the tech and gaming giants and amid the broader backdrop of technology, politics, business, and general-news.
