The American competition authority, the FTC (Federal Trade Commission), asked a federal court in San Francisco on Monday June 12 to temporarily suspend the acquisition for 68.7 billion dollars of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft, of after the summary consulted by Agence France-Presse (AFP).
The FTC had already launched an administrative procedure to determine the risks associated with this takeover, and a hearing is scheduled for early August. But press articles circulated “suggesting that Microsoft and Activision were seriously considering completing the acquisition” despite this procedure and the prohibition of the CMA, the British authority, notes Monday’s summary.
“The proposed transaction would allow Microsoft to continue to gain control of high-value video games”argues the FTC. “By controlling Activision’s content, Microsoft could, and would have an interest in, withholding such content, or lowering its quality in a way that weakens competition, including in terms of quality, price and innovation”estimates the federal agency.
“More choice and competition”
Microsoft has, for its part, assured “welcome this opportunity positively” to present his arguments before a judge, according to an official reaction from Brad Smith, the president of the group which owns the Xbox console. “We believe that speeding up the legal process in the United States will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the marketplace”he added.
Activision Blizzard has several phenomenal video games in its purse, from “Call of Duty” To ” Candy Crush “ Passing by “World of Warcraft”, “Diablo” And “Overwatch”. “If the transaction takes place, it will be the largest in the history of the video game industry and also in the history of Microsoft”pointed out the FTC.