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Microsoft Wins Appeal Against FTC Challenge to $69 Billion Activision Deal

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Microsoft has secured a major legal victory as the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) bid to revive its antitrust challenge against the tech giant’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, maker of the Call of Duty franchise.

Key Points:

  • Unanimous Ruling: A three-judge panel upheld a lower court decision that denied the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction. The court found that the FTC failed to demonstrate that the deal would likely harm competition.

  • Deal Closed in 2023: Microsoft finalized the largest-ever gaming acquisition after gaining approvals from regulators including UK authorities, despite scrutiny in multiple global jurisdictions.

  • FTC’s Position: The FTC argued the acquisition would undermine competition in console gaming, subscription services, and cloud gaming, but both the district court and appeals court found these claims lacked sufficient evidence.

  • Impact on FTC Strategy: The ruling is a blow to the FTC’s broader push under President Joe Biden’s administration to ramp up antitrust enforcement in Big Tech. The FTC’s internal administrative proceedings, paused since 2023, remain uncertain.

  • Microsoft’s Next Steps: While Microsoft has not yet commented, the ruling removes a significant legal obstacle and further solidifies its control over Activision’s gaming titles and intellectual property.

Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley had already ruled in 2023 that the acquisition would not “substantially lessen competition,” a standard the appellate court agreed had been correctly applied.

Sony Launches New First-Party Studio, Dark Outlaw Games, Led by Call of Duty Veteran

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Sony has officially launched a new first-party studio, Dark Outlaw Games, under its PlayStation Studios division. The studio is being led by industry veteran Jason Blundell, known for his work on the Call of Duty series, particularly in the Zombies mode. Blundell confirmed the creation of the new studio in an interview on Monday, although he refrained from sharing specifics about its initial project. Dark Outlaw Games is currently in the process of expanding its team, and Blundell mentioned that further details on the studio’s debut title would be revealed when the time is right.

In his interview with Jeff Gertsmann, Blundell expressed excitement about the opportunity to establish a new studio within PlayStation Studios. “I’ve had the amazing opportunity to create a new studio within PlayStation Studios for Sony. The studio is called Dark Outlaw Games. We’ve been working away in the shadows for a while, and when we’ve got something to talk about, we’ll step out into the light,” Blundell explained. His words hint that the studio is working on something significant, but they are keeping details tightly under wraps for the moment.

Blundell, who has a long history in the gaming industry, especially with Call of Duty, emphasized that Dark Outlaw Games is still in the early stages of its journey. The studio is focused on assembling the right team to bring its vision to life, and Blundell confirmed that staffing efforts are underway to ensure they have the talent needed for their first project. The excitement surrounding the studio’s future reflects Blundell’s reputation and the potential impact Dark Outlaw could have within the gaming community.

While no specifics about the studio’s first project were disclosed, the announcement has generated considerable interest. Fans are eager to learn what kind of games Dark Outlaw Games will develop, especially given Blundell’s experience with high-profile franchises. As the studio continues to grow and its first game takes shape, more information will likely surface, giving a clearer picture of the direction Sony and Blundell are taking with this new venture.

Call of Duty 2025 May Still Arrive on PS4 and Xbox One Despite Next-Gen Focus

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Call of Duty 2025 Could Still Be Released on PS4 and Xbox One Despite Next-Gen Focus

The Call of Duty franchise has long been known for its wide platform releases, and the upcoming Call of Duty 2025 might continue this tradition by launching on both current-generation and older consoles. The most recent title, Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, released in October 2024 across multiple platforms, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S/X, and PC. While many other triple-A games have moved exclusively to next-gen consoles, Call of Duty games have typically been available on a broad range of systems. Now, reports suggest that Call of Duty 2025 might follow suit.

According to a report from the popular Call of Duty news channel CharlieIntel, sources close to the game’s development indicate that Call of Duty 2025 could still be launched on PS4 and Xbox One. While it’s surprising that a game in 2025 might support these older consoles, especially given the industry’s shift toward newer hardware, the game is apparently being developed for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. CharlieIntel shared this information on X (formerly Twitter), noting that although Activision has not yet officially confirmed the game’s platforms, it is likely that the title will continue to support these legacy systems due to their substantial active user bases.

The decision to support older consoles in 2025 is a significant one, considering that many game developers have phased out support for last-gen systems as new hardware becomes more common. However, with the PS4 having sold over 117 million units as of August 2024 and maintaining around 49 million monthly active users, it’s clear why Activision might opt to release the next Call of Duty game across a broad range of consoles. The Xbox One, though having sold about 58 million units, still boasts a sizable player base, though specific monthly active user statistics are not as widely available.

As Call of Duty has traditionally catered to a wide audience, this move makes sense from a business standpoint, as it would ensure the game remains accessible to a large pool of players who have yet to upgrade to the latest consoles. While there’s still no official confirmation from Activision, it seems increasingly likely that Call of Duty 2025 will be available across both the new and older generation of consoles when it launches.