Antitrust Lawsuit Against Microsoft Settled

Business

16 October 2024 01:46

Microsoft has settled an antitrust lawsuit brought by a group of gamers opposing its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. According to reports from The Wrap, the details of the settlement remain undisclosed, but the lawsuit has been dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled. Both parties agreed that "each party shall bear their own costs and fees."

The lawsuit, filed in California in 2022, raised concerns about the potential monopoly Microsoft could create in the video game industry by acquiring the creators of popular titles like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush. The plaintiffs argued that the acquisition could lead to prioritization of Xbox versions of multiplatform games, increased prices, and the cancellation of certain titles. There were also worries about its impact on Game Pass subscribers.

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The legal challenge followed the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) attempts to block the acquisition, which ultimately did not succeed. Since Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision Blizzard in 2023, Game Pass has seen significant changes, including the gradual addition of Activision Blizzard games. Notably, Black Ops 6 is set to be the first mainline Call of Duty title available on Game Pass on launch day later this month.

Tags: Microsoft

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