The FTC’s Effort to Block Microsoft’s Activision Acquisition Will Test Biden’s Antitrust Legacy

The FTC’s vote to block the Activision acquisition was praised by consumer advocacy groups, some of which had spent months urging regulators to take a more proactive approach towards large acquisition attempts.

“Microsoft’s attempt to acquire Activision is unlawful, and it’s not particularly close,” American Economic Liberties Project Executive Director Sarah Miller said in a statement sent to Gizmodo. “The FTC made the right call. Microsoft’s flurry of last-minute promises to not abuse the market power that they’d gain from this deal reinforce its underlying illegality.”

The agency’s decision also received praise from Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren, who’s previously introduced antitrust legislation targeting growing consolidation across multiple industries.

“Corporate monopolies have had free rein to hike prices and harm workers, but now the Biden admin is committed to promoting competition,” Warren said.