Microsoft has achieved another significant win against the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in its ongoing effort to acquire Activision Blizzard. Today, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied the FTC's appeal to block Microsoft's monumental $69 billion acquisition of the company known for the iconic Call of Duty franchise. This decision, handed down by a three-judge panel, effectively puts an end to the FTC's challenge against the July 2023 ruling that initially allowed Microsoft to proceed with its purchase, first announced in late 2022 (Reuters).

The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft has been under intense scrutiny for over three years. Early opposition came from select U.S. Senators who raised alarms about the increasing consolidation within the tech industry, as Microsoft, the Xbox manufacturer, sought to expand its portfolio. Concerns were also voiced by competitors and the gaming community, fearing that popular franchises such as Call of Duty might become exclusive to Microsoft platforms. However, Microsoft alleviated these concerns by stating that it had no plans to restrict certain franchises through lengthy exclusivity periods.

Every Video Game Franchise Xbox Owns After Acquiring Activision Blizzard

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Despite numerous challenges throughout 2023, Microsoft successfully completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in October of the same year. The recent denial of the FTC's appeal removes any last-minute hurdles to normal business operations, signaling the end of the FTC's pursuit.

To get a comprehensive timeline of Microsoft's journey to finalize the Activision Blizzard acquisition, you can click here.