The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is set to begin a five-day evidentiary hearing this week in their legal attempt to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The hearing, scheduled from June 22 to June 29, will feature notable witnesses such as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick.
The FTC is seeking a preliminary injunction to prevent Microsoft from completing the $69 billion acquisition. Microsoft has voiced concerns that granting an injunction would effectively kill the deal, which is set to terminate on July 18 with a $3 billion termination fee.
The FTC’s main argument is that the acquisition would grant Microsoft’s Xbox exclusive access to Activision games, leaving competitors such as Nintendo and Sony Group’s PlayStation at a disadvantage. While the acquisition was approved by the EU in May, British competition authorities blocked it in April.
Satya Nadella is being called to testify about the video game industry, Microsoft Gaming’s strategy, the planned Activision acquisition, and other related topics. Similarly, Microsoft is calling on him to testify about similar subjects.
Bobby Kotick, on the other hand, will testify about Activision’s gaming business, future plans, and strategies. Other witnesses include Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO James Ryan, Dov Zimring (former director of product management for Google’s now closed gaming service, Stadia), and two executives from Nvidia.
In addition to these industry figures, Microsoft’s Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood, Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer, and Microsoft Gaming CFO Tim Stuart are also scheduled to testify. Expert witnesses will also provide their insights during the hearing.
Please note that this article may contain affiliate links. For more information, refer to our ethics statement.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
