Microsoft’s Activision acquisition nears conclusion as the FTC suspend in-house complaint

As Microsoft and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority begin the process of hammering out concessions towards the likely approval of an eventual Activision acquisition, the US Federal Trade Commission is pausing its own in-house complaint.

Microsoft and the FTC were set to meet August 2, 2023, in front of an administrative judge in a bid to stop the multibillion-dollar acquisition of Activision, but as it stands, the regulatory body is suspending its administrative challenge without a rescheduled date earmarked on the calendar.

Following the rejection of a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction against Microsoft’s bid to acquire Activision, as well as losing an appeal on an emergency hold against the two companies merging, the FTC has seemingly rethought its approach to blocking the largest game-related merger in recent years.

The FTC remains free to refile its complaints at a later time if it so chooses but as the CMA and Microsoft looks to try and wrap of the re-review of the acquisition by a new extended purchasing timeline of October 18, 2023, it feels doubtful that the FTC revisits a suspension over the next few months.

As Microsoft rounds the corner on its $62.B deal with Activision, the company will be doing so with fewer hurdles, and today’s FTC news is yet another problematic obstruction being removed from the company’s pay the deal going forward.