Update: Forbes reports that US FTC has now filed an appeal challenging the recent verdict from the US District Court for the Northern District of California. This will try to win a preliminary injunction blocking the Activision Blizzard acquisition deal with Xbox ahead of a scheduled trial in August 2023.
Original article below:
The US Federal Trade Commission is now reportedly “leaning toward” an appeal of yesterday’s Microsoft court decision that has now cleared the way for the company to complete its Activision Blizzard acquisition deal.
FTC Planning to Appeal Yesterday’s Verdict
A new report by Bloomberg has now revealed that the US FTC is now looking to launch an appeal, but it will be limited to a few days only so they will have to hurry it up or else it will be difficult to do it a second time.
Microsoft to Move Soon
Microsoft could not close the deal in the US before Friday this week. The deal is going to expire next Tuesday, July 18, 2023. The company will now have to move quickly and finally complete the acquisition this coming Monday.
UK CMA Only Hurdle to Overcome
There is still one small hurdle to overcome if Microsoft is to complete the buyout worldwide. It will have to clear the concerns of the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, which is the only one left standing in its way. Currently, Microsoft is now back on the negotiating table with the CMA to find a quick remedy for the issues around cloud gaming.
Yesterday, the verdict by the judge finally concluded that the FTC had failed to find enough evidence that a Microsoft-owned Activision Blizzard would substantially lessen competition. Judge Corley, the presiding judge, said that the deal was perhaps bad for Sony, but it was good for Call of Duty gamers.
