US Regulator Abandons Case Against Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision Blizzard

The Federal Trade Commission of the United States has withdrawn its complaint regarding Microsoft's purchase of Activision Blizzard. The decision to dismiss the case came after the FTC lost its appeal against Microsoft earlier this month, with an order issued on May 22, 2025. According to the commission, the public interest is best served by dismissing the case, leading to the formal dismissal of the complaint. Microsoft President Brad Smith reacted positively to the news on social media, calling it a 'victory for players' and expressing gratitude towards the FTC. The acquisition, valued at $68.7 billion, was finalized by Microsoft in January 2022. The FTC had attempted to block the merger, citing potential threats to competition in areas such as cloud gaming and exclusive titles. However, these attempts were unsuccessful, with the 9th Circuit US Court of Appeals ultimately rejecting the FTC's challenge on May 8, 2025, stating that the district court had applied the correct standards and did not abuse its discretion.