US Department of Justice is reviewing options after two losses in Blizzard deal between Microsoft and Activision

Microsoft wants to complete the biggest deal in video game history. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is concerned about the possible consequences of the takeover of Activision Blizzard by the Redmond company and is considering further steps after a series of legal defeats.

Image source: Xbox

After two legal defeats in the past week, the FTC has only a few options for further action. First, she can continue her fight in the FTC Administrative Court, the Commission’s internal judicial body. Second, it can conduct parallel proceedings before the Court of Appeal and appeal against decisions of earlier instances. The third option is to do both cases at the same time. In addition, the FTC could attempt to reach an agreement with Microsoft through negotiations. Finally, the last option is to abandon this idea entirely.

Microsoft’s merger with Activision could revolutionize the gaming console market as Microsoft gains access to major gaming franchises such as Call of Duty, Diablo and World of Warcraft. Regulators have raised concerns that such a deal could harm consumer interests by restricting distribution of Activision games.

Microsoft President Brad Smith recognized the complexity and importance of this lawsuit, calling it “Marathon of global regulatory audits“. The FTC’s defeats in two courts last week confirmed the difficulty of this matter.Marathon» for everyone involved in the process.

It’s worth noting that Sony, the gaming console market leader and one of the deal’s harshest critics, has already agreed to keep the Call of Duty series on the PlayStation. According to experts, this step could complicate the further fight of the American regulators.

At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the international aspects of the transaction. Microsoft is also awaiting approval from UK regulators. UK regulators have already agreed to suspend hearings to assess the deal.

The outcome of Microsoft’s battle over Activision could decide the future of the video game market for years to come. Confirmation or cancellation of the deal will have serious consequences for the entire gaming industry, affecting the balance of power in the market and opportunities for consumers.