From Yahoo Finance: 2025-05-23 14:45:00

The U.S. government drops a case against Microsoft over its $69 billion acquisition of game-maker Activision Blizzard, citing the decision best serving the public interest. The FTC tried to block the deal in 2022, but the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower court’s order denying the injunction, stating weak competition claims. Microsoft had to clear regulatory hurdles in the U.K. before closing the deal, offloading cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft to appease regulators.

By acquiring Activision Blizzard, Microsoft gains access to hit titles like Call of Duty, Overwatch, Diablo, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush for the Xbox Game Pass service. Microsoft president Brad Smith expressed gratitude for the FTC’s decision, calling it a victory for players and common sense in Washington, D.C. Gaming companies have shifted to subscriptions and live service games, making this acquisition strategic for Microsoft.



Read more at Yahoo Finance: FTC drops final challenge to Microsoft’s $69B Activision Blizzard deal