Overview

• The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed that the FTC failed to provide sufficient evidence to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
• The court ruled that the FTC did not demonstrate the merger would substantially lessen competition in gaming subscriptions, cloud gaming, or console markets.
• Microsoft's promises to keep Call of Duty multiplatform for at least 10 years were noted, countering concerns about exclusivity.
• The $68.7 billion acquisition, finalized in October 2023, remains the largest gaming buyout and Microsoft's most expensive purchase to date.
• The FTC retains the option to appeal to the Supreme Court or continue its internal administrative proceedings, though its arguments have faced repeated legal setbacks.