According to [url=https://www.reuters.com/markets/deals/us-ftc-withdraws-case-against-microsoft-activision-deal-before-internal-agency-2023-07-20/]Reuters[/url] and [url=https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/ftc-to-pause-microsoft-merger-trial-opening-door-to-settlement-talks-1.1948514]Bloomberg[/url],the Federal Trade Commission has withdrawn its administrative case against Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which was due to go before an in-house judge in August. Microsoft and Activision had requested the case be withdrawn after the FTC lost its case arguing for a block on the deal in district court, and was denied an extension of a temporary block by an appeals court.

The move means Microsoft and Activision can now try to persuade the U.S. antitrust regulator to accept a settlement. After its [url=https://www.polygon.com/23789793/microsoft-activision-blizzard-injuction-decision-ftc]loss in court[/url], the FTC doesn’t have a lot of leverage, although Microsoft may wish to offer some token of compromise to show that it’s willing to work with regulators and governments. [/quote]