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FTC Drops Microsoft–Activision Blizzard Case, Ending Challenge to $69 Billion Merger

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The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has formally dropped its legal case against Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, bringing a definitive end to one of the most high-profile antitrust challenges in the gaming industry.

The FTC announced Thursday that it would not pursue further legal action, citing that continuing the case was “not in the public interest.” The decision comes after the agency lost an appeal on May 7 to block the deal, which officially closed in 2023.

The acquisition—the largest in gaming history—gives Microsoft control over blockbuster franchises such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush, solidifying its dominance in both console and cloud-based gaming.

Shifting Priorities Under New FTC Leadership

FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, recently appointed by President Donald Trump, is redirecting the agency’s focus toward matters aligned with the current administration’s priorities. This includes:

  • A probe into advertiser collusion on Elon Musk’s X platform (formerly Twitter), as first reported by Reuters.

  • Ending legacy antitrust efforts, including a price discrimination case against PepsiCo, also dropped Thursday.

This pivot marks a departure from the aggressive antitrust posture of Ferguson’s predecessor, Lina Khan, who launched the Activision challenge over concerns that Microsoft might use the acquisition to suppress competition in the gaming sector—particularly via Xbox exclusivity and its Game Pass subscription service.

Microsoft’s Response

In a statement, Microsoft President Brad Smith praised the FTC’s decision, calling it:

“A victory for players across the country and for common sense in Washington, D.C.”

Microsoft has repeatedly argued that the merger will benefit consumers, pledging to keep popular titles like Call of Duty available across platforms, including Sony’s PlayStation.

Background and Legal Outcome

Though the FTC initially failed to secure a preliminary injunction to halt the deal before closing, it retained the option to pursue a post-closing trial in July 2025 aimed at unwinding the acquisition. That option is now off the table.

The deal had already secured regulatory approval in the EU and U.K., the latter after Microsoft agreed to restructure parts of the acquisition, such as cloud gaming rights.

With the FTC now stepping aside, the merger’s legal battles appear fully resolved, cementing Microsoft’s expanded position in the global gaming industry.

Microsoft Takes Legal Action Against Lumma Stealer Malware Infecting 400,000 Devices

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Microsoft has filed a legal action to disrupt the operations of Lumma Stealer, an advanced piece of information-stealing malware that has infected nearly 400,000 Windows computers worldwide over the past two months, the company said Wednesday.

The action was led by Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit (DCU) and involved a court order from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, enabling the takedown, suspension, and blocking of malicious domains that formed the malware’s core infrastructure.

“The growth and resilience of Lumma Stealer highlight the broader evolution of cybercrime and underscore the need for layered defenses and industry collaboration,” Microsoft said in a blog post.

Malware Capabilities

Lumma Stealer targets a wide range of sensitive user data:

  • Extracts information from web browsers, including saved passwords

  • Harvests credentials from cryptocurrency wallets

  • Installs additional malware on compromised systems

It operates as part of a larger cybercrime-as-a-service network, offering malicious tools to third parties for use in data theft and system compromise.

Federal Action and Domain Seizures

In parallel to Microsoft’s civil action:

  • The U.S. Department of Justice announced the seizure of five internet domains tied to the LummaC2 malware infrastructure

  • The FBI’s Dallas Field Office is leading the ongoing criminal investigation

These efforts aim to disrupt the malware’s operations and prevent further infections globally.

Broader Implications

The Lumma Stealer case highlights growing concerns over modular, stealthy malware strains designed to:

  • Evade detection

  • Monetize stolen data

  • Enable subsequent attacks

Microsoft emphasized the need for:

  • Layered cybersecurity defenses

  • Cross-industry cooperation

  • Judicial interventions to combat evolving digital threats

This case adds to a growing list of Microsoft-led legal and technical takedowns aimed at dismantling global cybercrime infrastructure, including recent actions against Storm botnets and ransomware operators.

Crusoe Secures $11.6 Billion to Expand Texas AI Data Center, Supporting OpenAI Infrastructure

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AI infrastructure startup Crusoe has raised an additional $11.6 billion to significantly expand its upcoming data center in Abilene, Texas, marking one of the largest funding rounds in the emerging “neocloud” space. The new capital brings the total raised for the project to $15 billion and will allow Crusoe to expand the facility from two to eight buildings, the company confirmed on Wednesday.

Founded in 2018 as a crypto-focused firm, Crusoe has since pivoted to become a specialized cloud provider for AI workloads, part of a new wave of “neoclouds” that offer tailored infrastructure beyond the traditional giants like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

Crusoe has been contracted by Oracle to construct the first data center for Stargate — a major AI infrastructure initiative backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle, with a planned $500 billion investment in global AI infrastructure. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Abilene facility is set to become OpenAI’s largest data center.

“Our customer is Oracle. OpenAI is Oracle’s customer,” Crusoe clarified in a statement, emphasizing its indirect yet vital role in supporting the ChatGPT creator’s infrastructure needs.

The project is seen as part of OpenAI’s long-term goal to reduce reliance on Microsoft, its current primary cloud provider.

Key Details:

  • Location: Abilene, Texas

  • Total Buildings: 8 (up from 2)

  • AI Chips: Each building will house up to 50,000 Nvidia Blackwell systems

  • Sponsors: Crusoe, Blue Owl’s Real Assets platform, and Primary Digital Infrastructure

The facility will support intensive generative AI workloads, crucial for OpenAI’s future model development and deployment.

The explosive growth in demand for AI compute capacity has fueled an investment boom in data centers powered by specialized chips like Nvidia’s Blackwell series — a market Crusoe is aggressively entering.

Neither OpenAI nor Nvidia responded to requests for comment at the time of publication.