In a move that could have a significant impact on the video game industry, a US judge has granted the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) request to temporarily block the $69 billion (about Rs. 5,68,008 crore) acquisition of video game maker Activision Blizzard by Microsoft. The ruling sets a two-day evidentiary hearing on June 22-23 in San Francisco, after which the court will decide whether a preliminary injunction is necessary. The FTC has argued that the deal would give Microsoft’s Xbox exclusive access to Activision games, leaving Nintendo and Sony out in the cold.
Microsoft has defended its bid to acquire the Call of Duty video game maker, stating that it would benefit gamers and gaming companies alike. The company has also offered to sign a legally binding consent decree with the FTC to provide Call of Duty games to rivals, including Sony, for a decade. However, this hasn’t convinced the FTC, which enforces antitrust law and asked an administrative judge to block the transaction in early December.
The case illustrates the muscular approach to antitrust enforcement taken by the Biden administration, and follows the EU’s approval of Microsoft’s bid to acquire Activision in May, and the British competition authorities’ blocking of the takeover in April. The court’s decision could have significant implications for the gaming market, and it’ll be interesting to see how Microsoft and Activision respond to the request for a preliminary injunction.
In other news, Apple has unveiled its first mixed reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference, along with new Mac models and upcoming software updates. This and other important announcements made at WWDC 2023 can be heard on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast, available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and wherever you get your podcasts.
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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.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of Global 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.
