The antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard has officially concluded. According to reports from the U.S., both parties notified the court on Monday that the case had been definitively dismissed. This means the case cannot be reopened.
Microsoft has officially acquired Activision Blizzard!
The details of the settlement have not been disclosed to the public. However, court documents indicate that both sides agreed to cover their own costs and fees. The lawsuit was originally filed in December 2022 by a private consumer citing concerns over monopolization.
In March 2023, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled that the case did not contain sufficient or substantial claims and ordered its dismissal. However, the plaintiff was given 20 days to refile the lawsuit. The case was reopened in April 2023 with new information, including revised documents related to Microsoft’s ten-year agreements with Sony and Nintendo.
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard was first announced in January 2022. However, the massive deal faced regulatory hurdles in the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the U.S., causing delays. Finally, in October 2023, the deal was officially approved, making Microsoft the owner of Activision Blizzard. Today marks the conclusion of the last remaining lawsuit, bringing the process to an end.
As of today, one of the most contentious, problematic, and perhaps longest acquisitions in history has officially come to a close. Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
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