The Federal Trade Commission has withdrawn its opposition to Microsoft acquiring gaming developer Activision, Barron’s reports.
The acquisition deal was set to expire on July 23rd, but both companies agreed to extend it to October 18. Microsoft, who owns the Xbox console system, has been acquiring and developing its own game producing division. Activision’s main asset is the Call of Duty franchise.
Fears that Call of Duty would become an XBox and PC exclusive game were alleviated when Microsoft/Activision signed a deal with Sony to keep the game on Playstation. The acquisition deal could now be portrayed as a business investment rather than anti-competitive measures.
The Federal district court refused to block the transaction, leaving only administrative law as a remedy to stop the merger. In turn, the FTC saw no possibility to win on the merits of the merger, and so withdrew its administrative action.
Call of Duty is the top American video game franchise of all time, 4th largest in the world, with over 400 million copies sold. The first in the series was released in 2003, with a new game produced every year since. While early installments focused on World War II, Call of Duty has since branched out to include various conflicts such as Vietnam, Afghanistan, and fictional ones.
