FTC Receives Another Set Back From Court, Microsoft Weighs Potential To Buy Activision Blizzard

We are in the final stretch of the soap opera of the purchase of Activision Blizzard. Microsoft won the lawsuit against the FTC but did not have the power to close the merger until a few hours ago. Even so, the American regulator refused to give up and wanted to appeal the judge’s decision, but the last thing that happened benefited Microsoft again. From this moment, those in Redmond can already join Activision Blizzard.

As reported by The Verge, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the FTC’s request to prevent Microsoft from closing the purchase of Activision Blizzard. “We appreciate the Ninth Circuit’s quick response in denying the FTC’s motion to further delay the settlement. This brings us one step closer to the finish line in this marathon of global regulatory reviews,” said Brad Smith, President of Microsoft.

In this way and for the first time in 18 months, Activision Blizzard can merge with Xbox at any time. Microsoft will take the step in the coming days and it will surely be from Monday, after it meets with the CAT (United Kingdom Competition Appeal Court), when it closes the deal. The definitive date is July 18, and everything indicates that this Monday there will be movement in this regard. A Blizzard worker has confirmed via Twitter that it will be the 17th when everything ends definitively.

Türkiye approves purchase of Activision Blizzard

There are still some open fronts, and one of them was that of Turkey. The country’s regulator approved the purchase of Activision Blizzard without conditions, as confirmed by Lulu Cheng on Twitter, Activision’s head of communications. There are more than 30 countries that have given the green light to this operation, but the decision of Australia, Canada and New Zealand is yet to be known, and as of Monday it will be known publicly.

Also Read: 5 Major Changes Call Of Duty Need After Microsoft Wins FTC Controversy

The only unknown is the CMA, which seems predisposed to negotiate with Microsoft. However, the remedies offered to the United Kingdom require a new investigation, although the United Kingdom has already set a new deadline and that is August 29, according to a document issued by the British regulator. The latest rumours warned that Microsoft was considering selling its cloud gaming rights to another company in the United Kingdom. Whatever it is, everything is almost finished and the purchase can now be finalized.