FTC v. Microsoft: all the news from the big Xbox courtroom battle
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By Tom Warren, a senior editor covering Microsoft, PC gaming, console, and tech. He founded WinRumors, a site dedicated to Microsoft news, before joining The Verge in 2012.
Microsoft is heading to court on June 22nd to face the Federal Trade Commission in a five day case that will determine the future of its $68.7 billion proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The FTC wants a preliminary injunction granted to prevent Microsoft from closing its deal ahead of a separate legal challenge that’s due to commence on August 2nd.
The stakes are high. Microsoft has until July 18th to try and close its proposed acquisition; otherwise, it has to pay $3 billion in breakup fees to Activision Blizzard or renegotiate new terms. The FTC isn’t the only regulator trying to block this deal from happening, either. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decided to block the deal in April, and Microsoft is currently appealing that decision in a case that will commence in late July.
Microsoft is bringing CEO Satya Nadella to a San Francisco courtroom this week to defend against the FTC’s preliminary injunction request. Xbox chief Phil Spencer and a number of other executives will also take the stand, along with PlayStation chief Jim Ryan and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick.
Follow along for all our coverage from inside Microsoft’s big Xbox courtroom battle.
Jun 20
Tom Warren
Microsoft is sending CEO Satya Nadella, Xbox chief Phil Spencer, and many other Xbox executives to defend against its Federal Trade Commission (FTC) case for its proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition.
Both Nadella and Activision CEO Bobby Kotick will appear in court this week to defend against a potential preliminary injunction against
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