Microsoft and Call of Duty

A knowledgeable source reported on Monday that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission will request a California state court to block Microsoft’s acquisition of video game company Activision Blizzard. Microsoft aims to acquire the maker of the game Call of Duty in a deal valued at $69 billion. The European Union approved the deal in May, although competition authorities in the UK expressed their objections to the acquisition in April. The Federal Trade Commission, responsible for enforcing antitrust law, asked the judge to halt the transaction in early December, stating that the acquisition would grant Microsoft’s Xbox brand exclusive access to Activision Blizzard’s games. The judge overseeing the case in California will need to approve the request. Microsoft President Brad Smith stated, "We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court." Microsoft claims that the deal will benefit both video game players and game development companies, and has offered to sign a legally binding document with the Federal Trade Commission agreeing to provide other companies, including Sony, access to Call of Duty for about ten years.