Microsoft's Acti-Blizz Acquisition Deal May Reportedly Receive Ruling By FTC In Late November

The proposed $68.7 billion acquisition deal for Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard may be winding down behind closed doors if reports about the FTC ruling in late November are accurate.

According to Dealreporter (transcribed via Seeking Alpha), the outlet claims the FTC's inquiries are currently at the staff level and expected to proceed through the Bureau of Competition and commissioners in the upcoming weeks. Their sources, FTC staffers concerned about the massive acquisition merger, also told the publication that the FTC has been in talks with several competitors against the transaction, like Sony and Google.

Regarding what their ruling will concern, it centers on examining the consumer data (reported via The Information) that Microsoft and Activision Blizzard control and its probable mark on the labor market. Moreover, the FTC is reviewing harassment and discrimination allegations from its workers and their conceivable influence on the metaverse.

This comes after Microsoft filed its case for the acquisition with the European Commission, which set a provisional deadline of November 8 to investigate the deal. Though, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has extended its investigation recently to March 2023, so Microsft will not be out of the woods even if these investigations conclude next month.

The future of the Call of Duty IP remains in flux as the acquisition deal is scrutinized by regulators and corporations, serving as a pivotal franchise that Sony's PlayStation will have under its umbrella for several years. CEO Jim Ryan called the deal "inadequate on many levels," however, Microsoft later stated to VGC that removing Call of Duty from PlayStation would make "zero business sense."

While we are approaching what seems to be the end of the acquisition investigations, are there concerns you might have about the merger? Let us know below!