FTC will review Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, says report
The FTC has generally been more aggressive with blocking deals than the Justice Department, but we’ll have to wait to see if that’s the case with Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard.
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What you need to know
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will review Microsoft’s proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard, according to a report byBloomberg. Microsoft announced plans toacquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billionlast month. As is the case with any deal of this size and nature, the acquisition will have to go through a legal process to determine if it violates antitrust legislation. In this case, the FTC will review the purchase rather than the U.S. Justice Department, according to a source that spoke with Bloomberg.
Both the FTC and Justice Department are responsible for reviewing antitrust cases. The two agencies frequently work together to decide which one should investigate specific deals.
The FTC has expressed that it will be more aggressive regarding large mergers and acquisitions, though that doesn’t indicate which way the commission will lean regarding Microsoft’s planned purchase of Activision Blizzard.
TheFTC sued to stop NVIDIA’s purchase of Armand Lockheed Martin’s proposed purchase of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings.
The FTC has not responded to media requests for comment at the time of publication. Microsoft declined to comment to Bloomberg on the review of its planned acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft’s announced plans to acquire Activision Blizzard sent ripples throughout the gaming industry.Experts weighed in on the deal, as did thechief of the World Bank. Our Senior EditorJez Corden also explainedwhat the deal means for the Xbox platform and gaming in general.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
