AUS District Judge Edward Davila recently granted the FTC’s request to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard temporarily. This move has led to the scheduling of a two-day evidentiary hearing in San Francisco next week to determine whether a preliminary injunction is necessary to last during the administrative review of the case. If implemented, this would block the acquisition, which is worth $69 billion and could benefit the gaming market by introducing more choice and competition. Despite Microsoft’s claims of potential benefits, the FTC argues that this acquisition would give Microsoft’s gaming console Xbox exclusive access to Activision games, leaving other consoles out of the competition. As of now, Microsoft and Activision have to submit their legal arguments opposing a preliminary injunction by June 16, with the FTC’s response due by June 20.
The case highlights the stringent antitrust enforcement approach taken by President Joe Biden’s administration. The EU approved Microsoft’s bid to acquire Call of Duty makers in May, but the British competition authorities blocked the takeover of the game maker in April. Once a decision has been reached, the bar on closing the deal will remain in place for at least five days.
In a separate event, Apple also unveiled its first mixed-reality headset, the Apple Vision Pro, at its annual developer conference. It also announced new Mac models and upcoming software updates that generated a lot of buzz among gadget enthusiasts. The company announced these items at WWDC 2023, and the discussion around these new releases can be found on the Orbital podcast available on multiple platforms. As always, affiliate links may be generated automatically, find our ethics statement for more details.
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Basant Kasayap is an entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to Bollywood to regional cinema, she offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
