Zhong Guo Jing Ying Bao·2025-05-31 02:00Core Viewpoint - The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) officially withdrew its antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, marking the end of regulatory disputes surrounding what is described as the "largest merger in gaming history" [1][2][4]. Regulatory Developments - On May 22, the FTC announced the withdrawal of its lawsuit, stating that continuing the litigation was not in the public interest after the Ninth Circuit Court upheld a lower court's decision to deny a preliminary injunction against the merger [2][3]. - The FTC's efforts to block the merger began in December 2022, citing concerns that the acquisition could suppress competition [2][4]. Acquisition Details - Microsoft announced its plan to acquire Activision Blizzard for approximately $69 billion in January 2022, which faced significant regulatory scrutiny in multiple countries before being completed in October 2023 [1][6]. - The total transaction value was reported to be $75.4 billion, with Microsoft utilizing over half of its cash reserves, which amounted to $111.26 billion as of June 30, 2023, for the acquisition [4][5]. Market Impact - Following the acquisition, Microsoft's Xbox content and services revenue surged by 50%, with Activision Blizzard contributing 44% to this growth [5]. - The merger is expected to enhance Microsoft's competitive position across various gaming sectors, including console, PC, and mobile gaming, while also expanding its player base significantly [4][5]. Challenges and Responses - The acquisition faced challenges from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), which expressed concerns about Microsoft's potential dominance in the cloud gaming market [7][8]. - Microsoft made concessions by selling cloud gaming rights to Ubisoft, which helped alleviate some regulatory concerns from the CMA [8]. Future Considerations - With regulatory hurdles cleared, the focus now shifts to how Microsoft will effectively integrate Activision Blizzard into its gaming operations [9].