FTC Seeks to Block Microsoft Corp.’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Inc.

John Elden Ring

John Elden Ring

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www.theverge.com

The FTC is suing Microsoft to block its Activision Blizzard purchase

It’s a big challenge to Microsoft’s planned acquisition.
www.theverge.com www.theverge.com

The FTC has filed a legal challenge to try and block Microsoft’s plan to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion, according to a press release from the regulator. The lawsuit was filed today after weeks of back and forth between Microsoft, Sony, and regulators over competition concerns and the future of Call of Duty. The FTC argues that the acquisition would “enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription content and cloud-gaming business.”

The vote from the FTC commissioners today means Microsoft now faces significant hurdles to get its Activision Blizzard deal complete. Regulators in the UK and EU are also scrutinizing the deal closely, despite Microsoft’s repeated attempts to appease regulators.

“Microsoft has already shown that it can and will withhold content from its gaming rivals,” said Holly Vedova, director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition said in a statement. “Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets.”

Microsoft offered Sony a 10-year deal on new Call of Duty games last month, but Sony hasn’t yet accepted the offer. A similar deal was agreed between Nintendo and Microsoft, though. It could see Call of Duty heading to Nintendo consoles if the Activision Blizzard deal is approved.
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Dabaus

Dabaus

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Wow, im shocked! There is no way the EU and espically the cma approve this now right?
 
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KnittedKnight

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He shouldn't have fallen for Phil's con.
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It's not the acquisition that is being judged here per say, it's MS ability to handle lobbying in DC/New York vis a vis other big Tech. Phil's move was a winning move. It's up to those higher up the chain to pull their weight and make sure it's covered. They got their rivals in Silicon Valley with just as much money lobbying as well. Time will tell. The FTC trying to make an example of MS when they've let everybody else in other, more consequential and influential industries in the country get a pass... please....

If MS becomes the safe, low hanging fruit with which the FTC decides to bring validity to itself, I think that would say enough about how effectively MS's money is being spent today considering how easy it's to get into DC these days, and how effective their rivals are at it... big tech being just but one pond, with Banking, Media, Defence for example being even bigger ponds. Shit Railroad workers just got a big taste recently.

It's a show nonetheless.
 
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KiryuRealty

KiryuRealty

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Where it’s at.
KnittedKnight said:
It's not the acquisition that is being judged here per say, it's MS ability to handle lobbying in DC/New York vis a vis other big Tech. Phil's move was a winning move. It's up to those higher up the chain to pull their weight and make sure it's covered. They got their rivals in Silicon Valley with just as much money lobbying as well. Time will tell. The FTC trying to make an example of MS when they've let everybody else in other, more consequential and influential industries in the country get a pass... please....

If MS becomes the safe, low hanging fruit with which the FTC decides to bring validity to itself, I think that would say enough about how effectively MS's money is being spent today considering how easy it's to get into DC these days, and how effective their rivals are at it... big tech being just but one pond, with Banking, Media, Defence for example being even bigger ponds. Shit Railroad workers just got a big taste recently.

It's a show nonetheless.
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LMFAO

So, this is you doing damage control, huh? "Even if I was talking out my ass, I was STILL RIGHT!"
 
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