Archive · 2 Jun 2025
Microsoft Wins Appeal in Activision Blizzard Deal
Imagine two big toy companies, Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, wanted to become one.
The government, represented by the FTC, thought this might be a bad idea because it could hurt other toy companies.
They worried that Microsoft would make it harder for people to buy games from other companies.
But a judge said the government didn't prove this would happen.
Later, a higher court agreed, and now Microsoft and Activision Blizzard can join.
The deal happened in 2023.
This means Microsoft, which makes Xbox, can now have games like Call of Duty.
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the FTC's challenge to Microsoft's Activision Blizzard acquisition.
The FTC's lawsuit, filed in 2022, sought to block the merger.
The court upheld a lower judge's decision that the FTC did not prove the merger would restrict competition.
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard was completed in 2023.
The FTC separately challenged the merger in an internal administrative action, currently on hold.
- Who
- The FTC and Microsoft, regarding the acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- What
- The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the FTC's legal challenge to Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
- When
- The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made the decision on Wednesday, rejecting the FTC's challenge.
- Where
- San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Why
- The FTC claimed the merger would allow Microsoft to limit competition. The court found the FTC failed to demonstrate this claim.
FTC
Microsoft/Activision Blizzard
Competition Impact
FTC
The merger would hurt competition.
Microsoft/Activision Blizzard
The merger wouldn't hurt competition.
- Companies Involved
- Microsoft and Activision Blizzard
- FTC Challenge
- Rejected by Court of Appeals
- Court
- 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Deal Value
- $69 billion
- Acquisition Date
- Closed in late 2023
- Legal Action
- Antitrust lawsuit filed in 2022 by FTC