Home » Technology » The Fate of Microsoft’s Proposed Acquisition Hangs in the Balance: The Microsoft FTC Trial Explained

The Fate of Microsoft’s Proposed Acquisition Hangs in the Balance: The Microsoft FTC Trial Explained

The fate of Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard hangs in the balance as the company heads to federal court this week to defend its $68.7 billion purchase against the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The legal battle began last December when the FTC announced its plans to block the acquisition, and last week, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order requested by the FTC, effectively halting the deal for now.

The trial, which is taking place at the United States District Court in the Northern District of California, will see the FTC seek a preliminary injunction against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard. If successful, this would prevent the acquisition from being completed while the FTC reviews the transaction’s compliance with U.S. antitrust law. The preliminary injunction could have a significant impact on the deal, as it needs to close by July 18, 2023, or the parties will have to renegotiate. An evidentiary hearing between Microsoft/Activision Blizzard and the FTC is scheduled for August 2, which falls after the deadline.

The trial is scheduled to run for five days, starting on June 22, with daily proceedings from 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time to approximately 3 p.m. The public can follow the proceedings through the court’s Zoom audio feed or stay updated through IGN’s daily coverage of the trial.

During the trial, key figures from Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, including Microsoft Studios head Matt Booty, vice president Sarah Bond, and Bethesda senior vice president Pete Hines, are expected to give opening statements and testify. Other notable individuals, such as Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Xbox head Phil Spencer, and Sony’s Jim Ryan, will also be involved in the trial.

The FTC has already hinted at its arguments against the merger, citing Microsoft’s decision to make Starfield an Xbox exclusive as “powerful evidence” against the acquisition. Microsoft is also facing challenges from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority, further complicating the proposed merger.

The outcome of this trial could have a significant impact on the future of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard’s historic merger. Stay tuned for more coverage on IGN, including daily recaps of the trial’s events.
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How might the FTC’s argument regarding Microsoft’s decision to make Starfield an exclusive for Xbox impact the outcome of the trial

The future of Microsoft’s $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard hangs in the balance as the companies head to federal court this week to defend the deal against the United States’ Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Last week, a federal court issued a temporary restraining order, effectively halting the acquisition for now.

The trial, taking place at the United States District Court in the Northern District of California, will see the FTC seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent the acquisition from being completed while the transaction is reviewed for compliance with U.S. antitrust law. The preliminary injunction could have significant consequences, as the deal needs to close by July 18, 2023, or the parties will have to renegotiate. However, an evidentiary hearing between Microsoft/Activision Blizzard and the FTC is scheduled for August 2, which falls after the deadline.

The trial is set to run for five days, starting on June 22, with proceedings held daily from 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time to approximately 3 p.m. The public can follow the proceedings through the court’s Zoom audio feed or stay updated through IGN’s daily coverage.

Notable figures from Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, including Matt Booty, Sarah Bond, and Pete Hines, are expected to give opening statements and testify during the trial. Other influential individuals involved in the trial include Bobby Kotick, Satya Nadella, Phil Spencer, and Jim Ryan.

The FTC has already hinted at its arguments against the merger, pointing to Microsoft’s decision to make Starfield an Xbox exclusive as evidence against the acquisition. The proposed merger is also facing challenges from the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.

The outcome of this trial could significantly impact the future of Microsoft and Activision Blizzard’s historic merger. Stay tuned for more coverage on IGN, including daily recaps of the trial’s events.

1 thought on “The Fate of Microsoft’s Proposed Acquisition Hangs in the Balance: The Microsoft FTC Trial Explained”

  1. It’s a high-stakes battle as Microsoft’s proposed acquisition faces the scrutiny of the FTC. The outcome of this trial will undoubtedly have a profound impact on both Microsoft and the tech industry as a whole. Stay tuned for the verdict that could alter the fate of one of the biggest corporate deals in recent history.

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