FTC's In-House Trial of Microsoft's Activision Blizzard Acquisition Paused

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is reportedly preparing to pause its in-house trial regarding Microsoft's proposed $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, potentially opening the door for settlement talks. The FTC has expressed opposition to the deal, claiming it would stifle competition in the gaming industry. After failing to secure an injunction to block the acquisition, the FTC is now expected to suspend its trial in response to a request from Microsoft and Activision. The deadline for the merger has been extended to October 18th, and Microsoft and Activision have also reached an agreement with the UK's Competition and Markets Authority to discuss potential remedies.