The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is already suing to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activsion Blizzard, but now it’s taking steps to halt the deal before the July 18th deadline. A CNBCsource claims the FTC is poised to file for an injunction that would prevent the merger from closing as scheduled. The lawsuit won’t go before a judge until August.
We’ve asked the FTC and Microsoft for comment. Microsoft tells CNBC it prefers an injunction as it puts the case in front of a federal judge sooner. In previous statements, Microsoft has downplayed the deal and claims that Activision Blizzard doesn’t have “must have” games. It even suggests Sony has higher-quality exclusives. The FTC, however, notes that Activision is one of just a few giant game publishers that publish major titles across platforms.
The lawsuit is going before the FTC’s own administrative law judge. That official will make a decision that can appeal to the Commission for a vote. If the agency votes against the merger, Microsoft can appeal to a federal court to challenge the outcome.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ftc-expected-to-file-injunction-to-block-microsofts-purchase-of-activision-blizzard-165738788.html?src=rss