Microsoft will finally be able to go through with its acquisition of Activision Blizzard after the Federal Trade Commission dropped its case against the company. Microsoft President Brad Smith has now addressed the decision publicly, calling it “common sense.”
Back on January 2022, Microsoft finalized its deal the purchase Activision Blizzard for a whopping $68.7 billion, making it the most expensive video game-related acquisition in to date. However, shortly after making the deal, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attempted to block the merger, arguing that it would be a threat to competition in gaming, specifically in first-party titles and subscription services.
What followed was a three-year battle between Microsoft and the FTC. Initially, the motion was denied by the Court of Appeals, to which the FTC submitted a preliminary injunction (a motion that forced Microsoft to hold off on the purchase). This was also denied in July 2023. The FTC vowed to keep trying, until on May 7, 2025, it was forced to drop the case.
Microsoft President reveals FTC case finally dropped
While it was dropped on May 7, it wasn’t until May 22 that Microsoft President and Vice Chair Brad Smith spoke out on the case on X.
“Today’s decision is a victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington, D.C. We are grateful to the FTC for today’s announcement,” shared Brad Smith.
The subsequent document highlighting the case being dismissed was also shared, revealing that the United States District Court would be “denying the Commission’s application for a preliminary injunction to block the acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc. by Microsoft Corp.”
They continued: “The Commission has determined that the public interest is best served by dismissing the administrative litigation in this case,” meaning the entire case has officially been dismissed.
This will mean that Microsoft can officially purchase Activision Blizzard after three years of waiting. However, what this will mean for new games and those previously controlled by Activision Blizzard is yet to be revealed, though the original intention for this purchase was to gain control over the company’s mobile games.
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