The Federal Trade Commission states that they are attempting to halt the purchase of Activision by Microsoft over a year after it was initially disclosed.
This comes only a day after it was stated by the Head of Xbox that the company would commit to delivering Call of Duty to Nintendo platforms if the purchase was given the go light.
FTC statement on Activision Blizzard acquisition
The following is an excerpt from a statement issued by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC): “Agency alleges that maker of Xbox would gain control of top video game franchises, enabling it to harm competition in high-performance gaming consoles and subscription services by denying or degrading rivals’ access to its popular content.” (Agency alleges that maker of Xbox would gain control of top video game franchises.)
According to Holly Vedova, Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition, “Microsoft has previously shown that it can and will withhold material from its gaming competitors.” “Today we seek to stop Microsoft from gaining control over a leading independent game studio and using it to harm competition in multiple dynamic and fast-growing gaming markets,” said one of the group’s leaders. “The gaming industry is one of the most innovative and competitive industries in the world.”
When the Commission decided to issue the complaint their votes in favor were 3-1, with Commissioner Christine S. Wilson voting no.
