US FTC appears to approve Microsoft’s Activision acquisition of Blizzard –

One of the world’s biggest regulators appears to be moving toward allowing Microsoft to take over Activision’s Blizzard, rather than first try to sue and block the deal.

This information comes from a report The New York Times, another member of the four-member Federal Trade Commission panel investigating the deal is leaning toward supporting the deal, meaning a total of two of the four members would approve the acquisition and therefore receive any vote in favor. 2-2 split. That would be enough to green light the deal.

It should take a chance that FTC Chair Lina Khan, the person who tried to steer the deal’s impasse and court proceedings, has a change of heart and offers concessions instead.

This appears to be in line with the general theme of other trade bodies around the world investigating the deal, including the UK’s CMA and the European Commission, both of which are looking at ways to mitigate the deal, for example by ensuring Call of Duty will remain on PlayStation consoles for the next decade.