The Federal Trade Commission finally gave up challenging Microsoft's $68.7 billion purchase of Blizzard's ghost. “The committee has determined that in this case, dismissing administrative litigation can best serve the public interest,” the agency said in a body released today.
Federal regulators have tried to stop Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard before and after the end of October 2023. The FTC just lost in its latest appeal against the merger. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the FTC had not successfully argued several points in its case to impose a preliminary injunction on the merger, one of the largest acquisitions in the video game industry.
“Today's decision is a victory for players across the country, and we are very grateful for the FTC's announcement for common sense in Washington, D.C.,” said Brad Smith, president and vice chairman of Microsoft, on the Dismissal.
