Despite indications that Microsoft is one step closer to completing its $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc, the tech corporation has hit another unexpected hurdle.
The United States Federal Trade Commission has requested to appeal the denial of its injunction to prevent the Activision acquisition.
The full argument of the appeal will be submitted later this week.
"We’re disappointed that the FTC is continuing to pursue what has become a demonstrably weak case, and we will oppose further efforts to delay the ability to move forward," said Microsoft vice chair and president Brad Smith in a statement to media platform The Verge.
The FTC’s request for appeal comes just days after its request for an injunction was denied by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley.
Regarding the FTC’s claims that the acquisition would threaten market competition in the gaming industry, the court ruled that, to the contrary, “the record evidence points to more consumer access to Call of Duty and other Activision content.”
Following Judge Scott Corley’s verdict, Activision Blizzard shares quickly jumped by 11.5%.
Update as of July 14: On Friday, the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) extended its deadline to make a final decision on the Microsoft-Activision deal to August 29 after it received a new proposal from Microsoft.
