FTC drops case against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition after nearly two years
Some good news for Microsoft
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Microsoft’s long fight with the FTC over its $68.7 billion Activision Blizzard deal is officially over. The Federal Trade Commission has now dropped its case, ending a legal battle that’s lasted nearly two years.
On Thursday, the agency filed to dismiss its complaint, just days after losing an appeal that tried to stop Microsoft from acquiring Activision.
FTC drops case against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition
“The Commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation in this case,” the FTC said in its filing.
The legal battle started back in 2022, when the FTC first moved to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision. It sought a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction, hoping to pause the deal in federal court.
Microsoft eventually won that fight in July 2023. Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard acquisition was finalized a few months later, in October. FTC wasn’t ready to give up that easily. It then appealed the ruling, but earlier this month, a U.S. appeals court sided with Microsoft again, rejecting the agency’s attempt to revive the injunction.
Now, with no legal options left, the FTC has dropped the case entirely. Microsoft responded quickly to the news. In a post on X, Microsoft’s vice chair and president, Brad Smith, said, “Today’s decision is a victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington, DC. We are grateful to the FTC for today’s announcement.”
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