FTC Will No Longer Continue Its Challenge Over Microsoft's Acquistion of Activision Blizzard

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will stop challenging Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard.

This marks the end of the agency's efforts to block the acquisition.

In an order issued by the FTC, it said that "The Commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation in this case."

"It is hereby ordered that the Complaint in this matter be, and it hereby is, dismissed," the order said in conclusion.

Court of Appeals Rules in Favor of Microsoft

According to a report by Reuters, the FTC's new order comes after the agency lost its latest appeal to reverse a court decision wherein a judge declined to block the purchase of Activision Blizzard.

In 2022, the FTC revealed its plans to block the merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, stating that the deal "would enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription content and cloud-gaming business."

"With control over Activision's blockbuster franchises, Microsoft would have both the means and motive to harm competition by manipulating Activision's pricing, degrading Activision's game quality or player experience on rival consoles and gaming services, changing the terms and timing of access to Activision's content, or withholding content from competitors entirely, resulting in harm to consumers," the agency added at that time.