The Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) has dropped its case in opposition to Microsoft that sought to dam the corporate’s blockbuster $75.4 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The deal was already accredited, however the FTC was interesting the choice.
A memo from the FTC states that, “The Fee has decided that the general public curiosity is finest served by dismissing the executive litigation on this case. Accordingly, it’s hereby ordered that the criticism on this matter be, and it hereby is, dismissed.”
Microsoft president Brad Smith said this was a “victory for gamers throughout the nation and for widespread sense in Washington, D.C.”
This outcome was anticipated. Earlier this month, a US appeals court docket denied the FTC’s enchantment of the unique judgment that the Microsoft-Activision Blizzard deal may undergo. It is not clear how the 2 firms may have been untangled had the enchantment been profitable.
To appease regulator issues, Microsoft carved out offers to deliver Xbox video games to non-Xbox streaming platforms and likewise proceed to launch video games on non-Xbox platforms. Microsoft is certainly doing that, and for April 2025 within the US, 5 out of the highest seven best-selling PS5 video games had been printed by Xbox.
The FTC’s case in opposition to Microsoft was pushed partially by FTC head Lina Khan. When President Trump took workplace in January 2025, he put in Andrew N. Ferguson as the brand new FTC chair.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard for $75.4 billion was Microsoft’s biggest-ever acquisition by buy worth, and the largest gaming buyout of all time.