Washington, D.C. – Washington, D.C. The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has officially concluded its legal challenge to Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition the video gaming giant Activision Blizzard, marking the end of a two-year antitrust trial over the biggest deal in the history of gaming. Reuters
Legal Battle Concludes
The FTC issued an application to dismiss the complaint, just weeks after it lost an appeal to getting a preliminary injunction to stop the acquisition. The commission stated that resolving the administrative case is in the best interests of public interest. It also signals the end of 2 years worth of legal effort to block the deal. The Verge+1Yahoo Finance+1
Background of the Case
The FTC initially believed that the merger would harm competition, in particular in that it would give Microsoft disadvantages in Xbox console market as well as cloud-based and subscription gaming. After having lost an appeal earlier in May 2025, to stop the acquisition and with the possibility of a trial to unwind the acquisition set for July and August, the FTC decided that pursuing the matter did not serve the public’s interest. Storyboard18+2Reuters+2The Verge+2
Microsoft’s Response
Microsoft Vice-President as well as President Brad Smith welcomed the FTC’s decision, describing it as an win for gamers and “common sense in Washington, D.C.” The Verge+1 Reuters+1
Shift in FTC’s Focus
FTC Chairperson Andrew Ferguson is redirecting the agency’s attention to other investigations which are aligned with President Donald Trump’s priorities, including an investigation into the possibility of collusion between advertising companies. The case involving PepsiCo for discrimination in pricing that favors Walmart was also dismissed in the context of this shift in direction. Reuters+1Game Developer+1
Conclusion
The FTC’s decision to dismiss the case effectively ends legal issues surrounding Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard, allowing the tech giant to fully integrate the gaming business into its business operations.
