There's Apparently A 'Rift' At The FTC Over Xbox's Activision Blizzard Deal

It was reported recently that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) was likely to file a lawsuit against Microsoft's attempt acquisition of Activision Blizzard, but there's now "hope" that the merger will be approved by the FTC instead.

A new report from the New York Post says that the acquisition has caused a rift at the FTC, with FTC Chair Lina Khan supposedly pushing to block the deal, but others leaning towards Microsoft including the FTC’s sole Republican commissioner, Christine Wilson, as well as "at least one of the four-member panel’s three Democratic commissioners".

It's suggested by "DC Insiders" that a potential 2-2 tie in a four-person vote isn't something that the FTC Chair is likely to risk, as it would "throw Khan’s authority over the agency into question" and "effectively OK the deal" anyway.

William Kovacic, a former FTC Chairman, told the New York Post that if Microsoft's was willing to provide remedies for the acquisition (potentially including a 10-year Call of Duty commitment on PlayStation), that would definitely help:

"What makes it difficult is when Microsoft goes to their friends in blue and says, 'We have provided a package of solutions for all the perceived problems, and the folks at the FTC are being very unreasonable if they don’t take it'..."

So, things seem to be looking a bit more positive for Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard in the United States right now, although we won't know for sure until at least later this month - probably more likely in January.

If a lawsuit does end up going ahead, Bloomberg is reporting that Microsoft is "ready to fight" for the deal.

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[source nypost.com]