The verdict has arrived: the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has declared that it will sue Microsoft to avoid buying Activision for 68.7 billion dollars. The FTC believes this purchase would allow the company to suppress competition in the video game industry.
For the uninitiated, the FTC is an independent agency that aims to protect consumers and ensure a competitive marketplace.
FTC competition director Holly Vedova said in a statement: “Microsoft has already proven that it can and will hide content from its rivals. Today, we seek to prevent Microsoft from gaining control of a major independent game studio and that are using it to undermine competition in many fast-growing and dynamic gaming markets.”
According to the information of our colleagues from the eurogamer. net, with control over Activision’s successful franchises, Microsoft would have the means and motivation to undermine competition by manipulating Activision’s pricing, degrading game quality or player experience on rival gaming consoles and services. All of this would harm consumers.
However, Microsoft has already responded and it seems that the American giant is ready to fight its cause and proceed with the purchase of Activision Blizzard.
“We continue to believe this deal will broaden competition and create more opportunities for gamers and game developers,” Microsoft President Brad Smith said in a statement. “We have been committed to addressing competition concerns since day one, including the proposed concession offer earlier this week to the FTC.”
“While we believe in giving peace a chance, we have full faith in our case and welcome the opportunity to make our case in court,” concludes Smith.
Don’t forget that if Microsoft buys Activision Blizzard, some of today’s greatest sagas will fall within its sphere of action, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft or Candy Crush.
We have been committed to addressing competition concerns since day one, including offering proposed concessions to the FTC earlier this week. While we believe in giving peace a chance, we have full confidence in our case and welcome the opportunity to take it to court.
— Brad Smith (@BradSmi) December 8, 2022
