Microsoft's proposed purchase of Activision Blizzard is the biggest proposed deal in video game history, but some notable outlets are wondering if it's going to happen at all. A Federal Trade Commission suit against the acquisition has turned into a major hurdle that the company must clear.

　　Business publication Seeking Alpha recently ran an analysis piece that suggested that Microsoft should walk away from the proposed merger, citing legal challenges and an uncertain economic outlook as key factors. Author JR Research also questioned Microsoft's plan to compete with Google and Apple on the platform front with a proposed "super app." The author notes that the next few years in gaming are expected to be slow in terms of growth due to the pandemic's impact on the industry.

　　You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos.

　　Click To Unmute

　　State Of Gaming Handhelds In 2023

　　How Lies of P Cracked the Souls GenreLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Ichiban Kasuga Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Chitose Fujinomiya Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Kazuma Kiryu Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Saeko Mukoda Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Eric Tomizawa Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Joongi Han Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Tianyou Zhao Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Seonhee Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Koichi Adachi Character Spotlight TrailerLike a Dragon: Infinite Wealth - Official Yu Nanba Character Spotlight Trailer

　　Share

　　LinkEmbed

　　Size:640 × 360480 × 270

　　Start at: End at: Autoplay Loop

　　Want us to remember this setting for all your devices?

　　Sign up or Sign in now!

　　Please use a html5 video capable browser to watch videos.

　　This video has an invalid file format.

　　00:00:00

　　HTML5

　　Auto HD High Low

　　Report a problem

　　Sorry, but you can't access this content!

Please enter your date of birth to view this video

　　By clicking 'enter', you agree to GameSpot's

　　Terms of Use and Privacy Policy

　　enter

　　Now Playing: The Hidden Gems Of The Xbox Activision Acquisition

　　The FTC's case against the deal is not at all straightforward, and its legal fate remains up in the air. As a Columbia Law School professor told the Wall Street Journal, the FTC has a high burden to clear in order to prove that the deal is "anti-competitive," especially since Activision Blizzard and Microsoft theoretically represent two different phases of the video game production model. This makes the deal a "vertical merger," which US courts have typically greenlit.

　　However, regardless of the deal's ultimate fate in the courts, the drawn-out legal process triggered by the FTC's suit has endangered the deal by slowing it down. While it seems unlikely that Microsoft would back down from this blockbuster purchase, at least at this early juncture, there are certainly more obstacles in its way than many expected. Indeed, Microsoft has stated that they have complete confidence in their case.

　　The Best Xbox Game Pass Games

　　See More