After months of uncertainty, the United States Federal Trade Commission has officially filed a lawsuit to stop Microsoft from its $68.7 billion dollar purchase of Activision Blizzard. The attempt to block the acquisition is because the FTC believes that it would allow Microsoft to suppress competitors, especially due to the fact that Microsoft already acquired ZeniMax and made their IPs exclusive to Microsoft platforms despite stating to antitrust authorities that they would not do that.

The Federal Trade Commission is seeking to block technology giant Microsoft Corp. from acquiring leading video game developer Activision Blizzard, Inc. and its blockbuster gaming franchises such as Call of Duty, alleging that the $69 billion deal, Microsoft’s largest ever and the largest ever in the video gaming industry, would enable Microsoft to suppress competitors to its Xbox gaming consoles and its rapidly growing subscription content and cloud-gaming business.

Microsoft says that it is prepared to take things to court and prove that its purchase of Activision will help competition rather than hurt it. They also made offers to Valve, Nintendo, and Sony that would allow for Activision's Call of Duty franchise to be available on competing platforms for up to 10 years.

Source

 

[stanleyopar2000]

Is pathetic that Sony needs COD this much that they willing to sue to stop the deal

exactly....they need to get off their ass and use the IP's that they have like SOCOM, Resistance, MAG and even Killzone.

Oh i forgot that requires...*checks notes...* effort

 

[such]

Shit, y'know they've got a good point here.

Pinky swear.

Besides, they can buy them whenever they want at a retailer of their choice. What's the problem, officer?

 

[RAHelllord]

I didn't know Trump was president back in 2009 and reelected in 2012. But sure, mate.

As if Bush Jr was any better when it came to corporate oversight, which still leaves two republican presidents responsible for two of the three mergers. Obama has no excuse, though, except trying to not rock the boat.

 

[WG481]

I remember people crying that Microsoft would ruin Minecraft :')

They, uh, kinda did.

 

[Xzi]

Honestly I'd prefer if Microsoft was allowed to acquire ActiBlizz. Reason being that the alternative is ActiBlizz tanks in value and then gets acquired by someone worse like EA or, god forbid, Epic. That said, more action on antitrust laws would be generally welcome, just maybe not in this case specifically.

 

[sombrerosonic]

They, uh, kinda did.

They really did, bedrock is pretty bad for this

 

[ZeroFX]

State should learn not to meddle on private companies' business, but screw ms and actiblizzard so what ever.

 

[ChaosEternal]

What a waste of time and money. Maybe 15 years ago that would've been true, but anyone who thinks this merger will create a monopoly is out of their mind.

 

[AkiraKurusu]

I remember people crying that Microsoft would ruin Minecraft :')

Well, Bedrock is kinda worse than Java due to Redstone mechanics being different, not to mention the freaking storefront bolted onto it, so in a way Microsoft did "ruin Minecraft".

Post automatically merged: Dec 8, 2022

If Microsoft wins, will it be "Microsoft Activision Blizzard"?
Kinda a mouthful. Needs to be shortened to MAB.

 

[ChaosEternal]

As if Bush Jr was any better when it came to corporate oversight, which still leaves two republican presidents responsible for two of the three mergers. Obama has no excuse, though, except trying to not rock the boat.

Er, two of the mergers were under Obama, not one. Both the Marvel and Lucasfilm mergers were under his watch. Fox was under Trump's watch. Neither were under Bush Jr.'s watch.

Post automatically merged: Dec 8, 2022

Well, Bedrock is kinda worse than Java due to Redstone mechanics being different, not to mention the freaking storefront bolted onto it, so in a way Microsoft did "ruin Minecraft".

Post automatically merged: Dec 8, 2022

If Microsoft wins, will it be "Microsoft Activision Blizzard"?
Kinda a mouthful. Needs to be shortened to MAB.

I vote we reverse it and go with BAM. That sounds way punchier!

 

[pedro702]

State should learn not to meddle on private companies' business, but screw ms and actiblizzard so what ever.

if this kinda laws didnt exist then we would have microsoft or apple just owning every phone/pc in the world becuase as soon as a new start up tech company appeared they would just buy it and never have competition...

 

[ChanseyIsTheBest]

Microsoft has bought ten million different companies and can barely put out a single game from ANY of their own studios to save their life. What have Microsoft even published this year? A visual novel game besides that nothing. If you aren't against this merger for consolidation of the industry purposes you should be against because Microsoft kidnaps these studios where they turn into formless blobs that barely release anything at all.

 

[sombrerosonic]

Microsoft has bought ten million different companies and can barely put out a single game from ANY of their own studios to save their life. What have Microsoft even published this year? A visual novel game besides that nothing. If you aren't this merger for consolidation of the industry purposes you should be against because Microsoft kidnaps this studios where they turn into formless blobs that barely release anything at all.

Bill gates Visual Novel where you can sex him (Shitpost)

 

[ChanseyIsTheBest]

Bill gates Visual Novel where you can sex him (Shitpost)

That's just Microshaft Winblows 98

 

[ZeroFX]

if this kinda laws didnt exist then we would have microsoft or apple just owning every phone/pc in the world becuase as soon as a new start up tech company appeared they would just buy it and never have competition...

cool.

 

[jeffyTheHomebrewer]

It's a bloody smissmas miricle!

 

[nyder]

State should learn not to meddle on private companies' business, but screw ms and actiblizzard so what ever.

FTC is federal, thus the name, Federal Trade Commission.

 

[ZeroFX]

FTC is federal, thus the name, Federal Trade Commission.

ok?

 

[nyder]

ok?

No, it's not okay.

 

[Guacaholey]

Where was the FTC when Disney purchased Marvel, Lucasfilm and Fox again?

I doubt there was another company crying about how they'd be screwed by those acquisitions. I'd actually prefer MS acquire Activision Blizzard because then we might see more stuff come to Switch because Microsoft likes money.