Microsoft's $69-billion Activision deal gets US court approval

After a U.S. judge gave a go-ahead to the $69 billion deal and a British regulator suggested reconsidering its opposition, Microsoft has cleared major hurdles to its plan to buy videogame maker Activision Blizzard. The U.S. and Britain have been the two countries opposed to what would be Microsoft's biggest deal ever and the largest transaction in the videogame industry's history.  

While Activision’s shares surged 10% on the day, Microsoft shares rose 64 cents to $332.47. 

U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco rejected the Biden administration's contention that the deal would hurt consumers by giving Xbox game console-maker Microsoft exclusive access to games including the best-selling "Call of Duty."

Shortly after the U.S. judge's order, Britain's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it was prepared to consider Microsoft's proposals to resolve antitrust concerns in the UK, suggesting the two parties may come to a resolution. 

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had argued that Microsoft would be able to use the Activision games to leave rival console makers like Nintendo and market-leader Sony Group out in the cold.