Microsoft has emerged victorious in its court battle against the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC), paving the way for its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. The deal, valued at $68.7 billion, will enable Microsoft to add renowned game titles like Diablo 4, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush to its gaming portfolio.
The court case garnered significant attention in the gaming community, with social media discussions and revelations about game development costs for titles like The Last of Us Part 2 involving console rival Sony. However, the focus of the case was whether the FTC could secure an injunction to block the deal temporarily while further investigations were conducted. Ultimately, the case was seen as a referendum on the overall viability of the acquisition.
Following the court ruling, Xbox chief Phil Spencer took to Twitter to express his support for the deal, stating that “the evidence showed the Activision Blizzard deal is good for the industry.” He further refuted the FTC’s claims about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud gaming, asserting that they do not reflect the realities of the gaming market.
Spencer emphasized Microsoft’s commitment to expanding gaming accessibility, stating that agreements have been signed to make Activision Blizzard’s games, Xbox first-party titles, and Game Pass available to a broader player base on various devices.
While the FTC has approved the acquisition, the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) previously blocked the deal in the UK in April, citing concerns over Microsoft’s market-leading position in cloud gaming. Microsoft is currently appealing the decision in the UK.
With the court case behind them, Microsoft now faces the final hurdle in the UK appeal process. Should the appeal be successful, the acquisition will proceed, allowing Microsoft to further solidify its position in the gaming industry and expand its offerings to players worldwide.
