Microsoft has resolved a dispute with American gamers who had been attempting to block the purchase of Activision Blizzard for $69 billion for almost two years.
The details of the parties' agreement have not been disclosed. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the case was closed with the condition that it cannot be reopened in the future. For Microsoft, this marks the end of a prolonged period of legal disputes. The company agreed to the settlement without further comment on the matter.
As a reminder, the deal between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, announced in January 2022 and completed in October 2023, sparked a wave of criticism. It faced challenges from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and other international regulatory bodies.
The situation with gamers unfolded as follows:
- In December 2022, they filed the first lawsuit, claiming the deal would lead to a monopoly in the market, allowing Microsoft to raise prices and reduce game choices.
- In January 2023, Microsoft requested the court to pause the case until the FTC proceedings were concluded.
- In March 2023, the court dismissed the gamers' lawsuit due to lack of evidence.
- In April 2023, gamers filed a renewed lawsuit with company internal documents and data from Sony. Microsoft labeled the plaintiffs' claims as "groundless and implausible."