Microsoft wins FTC fight to buy Activision Blizzard
https://www.theverge.com/2023/7/11/23779039/microsoft-activision-blizzard-ftc-trial-win
From the article, quoting Judge Corley:
… the Court finds the FTC has not shown a likelihood it will prevail on its claim this particular vertical merger in this specific industry may substantially lessen competition. To the contrary, the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content. The motion for a preliminary injunction is therefore DENIED.
Yeah, I have mixed feelings.
I would ideally like Blizzard to split from Activision and have their leadership replaced, but realistically, I don’t see a path to that happening, and I don’t imagine it could recreate the original Blizzard anyway. Talent has moved on. Circumstances have changed.
Meanwhile, although Microsoft has been a problematic giant for almost the entire history of personal computing, their problems (as far as I know) do not include routine abuse/harassment or silencing support of human rights on behalf of the Chinese government.
Given the choice between no change and this change, I think I prefer this change. I might actually play a Blizzard game again if it goes through.