Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision Blizzard Temporarily Blocked in the US

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Games company has in its portfolio games like ‘Call of Duty’, ‘Overwatch’, ‘Warcraft’, ‘Candy Crush’ and the Tony Hawk franchise. If the purchase is completed, it becomes the largest acquisition in the gaming market. Acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft is temporarily blocked Dada Ruvic/Illustration/File image/Reuters The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft was suspended this Tuesday (13) by decision of a judge in the United States. The information is from the Associated Press news agency. The value of the acquisition is approximately US$ 69 billion, around R$ 335 billion. If the purchase is completed, it will be the biggest acquisition in the gaming market. US District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco ruled in support of a temporary restraining order sought by the Federal Trade Commission that prevents Microsoft from closing the deal. In a court filing on Monday, the commission sought a restraining order and an injunction to block Microsoft’s acquisition of the California-based company behind hit games like “Call of Duty,” “World of Warcraft” and “Candy Crush”. Microsoft buys game maker Activision Blizzard Microsoft, maker of the Xbox gaming system, has spent months trying to get worldwide approval for the purchase. Although several countries approved the takeover, regulators in two major economies – the US and UK – took steps to block it, arguing that it could stifle competition in the video game market. The judge said her order temporarily blocking the deal “is necessary to maintain the status quo” while the commission’s legal proceedings against the purchase are still pending. A hearing on the request for this block is scheduled for June 22nd and 23rd. The Federal Trade Commission already took Microsoft to court last year to block the merger, but the case is scheduled to begin hearing on Aug. 2. The commission said it filed the blocking order in federal court this week because it was concerned that Microsoft was trying to close the deal before the trial began, which would make it “difficult, if not impossible” to reverse course if the acquisition was later. considered illegal. Microsoft said in a written statement on Tuesday that “accelerating the legal process in the US will bring more choice and competition to the gaming market.” “A temporary restraining order makes sense until we can receive a decision from the Court, which is moving quickly,” the company said.

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