FTC Fails to Delay Microsoft's $69 Billion Buyout of Activision Blizzard 1
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In expected news, the Federal Trade Commission has failed in its attempts to delay Microsoft’s eye-watering $69 billion buyout of Activision Blizzard. Earlier this week, the US regulator lost its court case against the trillion dollar tech titan, meaning it was unable to impose a temporary injunction on the deal closing. The department appealed, but its request was rejected, and then the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals also shot down its request for emergency relief.

All of this is relevant because there’s an 18th July deadline on the deal looming, although the Redmond firm still needs to overcome its issues with the Competition and Markets Authority, which is the UK’s regulator. Most recently, the two parties returned to the negotiating table to hammer out some kind of resolution, although notably a spokesperson for the British agency said it “stands by” its decision to block the acquisition and that discussions are still in their infancy.

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“We appreciate the Ninth Circuit's swift response denying the FTC's motion to further delay the deal,” said chuffed Microsoft bigwig Brad Smith. “This brings us another step closer to the finish line in this marathon of global regulatory reviews.”

Of course, all of this raises questions for PlayStation, and it’s something we analysed in a reaction piece earlier this week. With the deal looking likely to close any day now, Sony is going to have to be swift and shrewd in shoring up its business, as the potential for more third-party acquisitions could seriously impede its position in the market.

[source eurogamer.net]