Microsoft’s bid to purchase Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion has cleared another major hurdle, paving the way for the Xbox company to press ahead and complete the deal. In its court case against the FTC, which was seeking an injunction to at least temporarily hold up the deal, Microsoft has emerged victorious.
The decision from US district judge Jaqueline Scott Corley was handed down on July 11, with Corley disagreeing with the FTC’s argument. Sony and other opponents of the deal said it was anti-competitive. As of yet, Sony has yet to respond or react to the FTC’s decision.
The FTC will still hold a trial on the situation beginning on August 2, but Corley’s decision means that the FTC will not receive the temporary injunction to prevent the deal from moving ahead in the meantime.