Microsoft says the acquisition of Activision Blizzard will benefit players and game companies

CTOnews.com, Dec. 23 (Reuters)-Microsoft said on Thursday that its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard will benefit both players and gaming companies.

CTOnews.com has reported that FTC said this month in a complaint aimed at blocking the deal that the merger would hamper competition in the gaming industry. So Microsoft made the point in a document aimed at persuading a FTC judge to allow the deal to proceed.

The Federal Trade Commission said it was concerned that Activision Blizzard's popular games, including World of Warcraft and Diablo, might stop providing services on devices of Microsoft's Xbox competitors, and that it would hold hearings before administrative law judges in August 2023.

Microsoft President Brad Smith said in mid-December that the company had offered to sign a legally binding agreement with the Federal Trade Commission to provide call of Duty games to competitors, including Sony, for a period of 10 years.

"the acquisition of a game company by the third-ranked console manufacturer cannot upend the highly competitive industry. especially when the manufacturer has made it clear that it will not monopolize the game." Microsoft emphasizes.

In a statement this week, Mr Smith said he remained confident in the company's legal action, but remained "committed to reaching creative solutions with regulators". Activision CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement Thursday that he believes the two companies will win the legal battle with the Trade Commission.

In addition, Microsoft's deal faces scrutiny outside the United States, and the European Union says it will decide whether to approve or block the deal by March 23, 2023.

"players sued Microsoft in US court to prevent it from acquiring Activision Blizzard."