FTC suspends its challenge of Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision

0

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has elected to suspend its administrative challenge aiming to stop Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard, in what would be the most expensive merger in video game history.

On December 8, 2022, the FTC disclosed its intention to prevent the progress of the acquisition in a lawsuit on the basis that “Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals.”

Microsoft
Microsoft in Cologne, Germany (CREDIT: philipus / Alamy Stock Photo)

However, the United States District Court for the Northern District of California denied the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction that would have allowed the FTC’s in-house court to investigate the impacts of competition on the consumer.

“The Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition,” said Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley. “To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content.”

As a result, the case has been suspended and will no longer be presented to its in-house administrative judge next month (via The Verge). However, that might mean that the FTC seizes the chance to re-file the challenge as Microsoft and Activision Blizzard have extended the deadline for the acquisition to be secured.

Buoyed by the good news, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard is now focused on negotiations with the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the United Kingdom.

“We’re optimistic about getting this done, and excited about bringing more games to more players everywhere,” said Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming. Conversely, the CMA said that Microsoft’s evidence was “not effective to remedy [its] concerns” over a potentially irregular competitive landscape.

In other gaming news, the second trailer for the upcoming Gran Turismo movie showed more of the real story of professional racing driver Jann Mardenborough. Mardenborough is the youngest winner of the GT Academy, where 90,000 gamers tried out for a chance to realise their racing ambitions.

Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our  Twitter, & Facebook

We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.

For all the latest Gaming News Click Here 

Read original article here

Denial of responsibility! Rapidtelecast.com is an automatic aggregator around the global media. All the content are available free on Internet. We have just arranged it in one platform for educational purpose only. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, all materials to their authors. If you are the owner of the content and do not want us to publish your materials on our website, please contact us by email – [email protected]. The content will be deleted within 24 hours.
Leave a comment