FTC Drops Case over Microsoft's $69 Billion Activision Blizzard Deal
- The Federal Trade Commission dropped its case on May 23, 2025, against Microsoft's $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard completed in October 2023.
- The dismissal followed nearly two years of legal action, including failed attempts by the FTC to block the deal via injunctions and appeals.
- The FTC argued Microsoft could make Activision games exclusive to Xbox, but courts rejected this, noting Microsoft maintained titles on rival platforms like PlayStation.
- Microsoft President Brad Smith described the outcome as a win for gamers nationwide and a sensible resolution in Washington, D.C., noting the FTC dismissed the case in consideration of the public interest.
- The case’s closure implies regulatory challenges to major tech acquisitions may face higher barriers when courts find insufficient competitive harm evidence.
57 Articles
57 Articles
FTC drops final challenge to Microsoft’s $69B Activision Blizzard deal
Three years after suing to block Microsoft from buying one of the biggest names in video games, the U.S. government is finally giving up. The Federal Trade Commission announced plans Thursday to drop a Biden-era case against Microsoft over its $69 billion acquisition of game-maker Activision Blizzard, a decision the regulator said now best serves the public interest. In 2022, the FTC first announced that it would try to kill Microsoft’s planned…

FTC abandons Biden-era effort to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard
By DEE-ANN DURBIN, AP Business Writer The Republican-controlled Federal Trade Commission is abandoning a Biden-era effort to block Microsoft’s purchase of “Call of Duty” video game maker Activision Blizzard. Related Articles Homeowners spend on renovations and repairs despite the uncertain economy and higher prices Apple has had few incentives in the past to start making iPhones in US Edmunds: How …
FTC drops antitrust case against Microsoft’s $69Bn Activision Blizzard acquisition
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially ended its legal challenge against Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, marking a significant shift in the agency's approach to antitrust enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration. The FTC filed an order on May 22, 2025, to dismiss its complaint, stating that continuing the case against the long-closed deal was not in the public interest. This decision fol…
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