Microsoft and a group of concerned gamers have just settled a big antitrust lawsuit brought on by its buyout of Activision Blizzard. The acquisition of Activision Blizzard has been one of the biggest gaming news stories to unfold over the past few years, as it has allowed Microsoft to bring major franchises like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Crash Bandicoot into the Xbox umbrella. This industry-shaking buyout was finalized in October 2023, with Microsoft ultimately paying $75.4 billion for Activision Blizzard and all of its related assets.
Microsoft’s purchase of Activision Blizzard drew concern and controversy from a variety of parties, with groups like the UK's Competition and Markets Authority and the US Federal Trade Commission challenging the deal due to worries of antitrust violations. One such lawsuit was filed in California by a group of players from multiple states that stressed how the Activision Blizzard buyout could create a monopoly and weaken competition between Microsoft and other video game companies. Microsoft has argued that this wouldn’t be the case, citing how previously-acquired Bethesda titles like Fallout 76 continue to receive updates on non-Xbox systems following its buyout of ZeniMax in 2021.
Microsoft is planning...
