LogInThe judge has dismissed the gamers' lawsuit saying that there is no evidence to suggest that the deal would have a negative impact on competition in the market.
In December 2022, a group of ten gamers filed a private antitrust lawsuit in an attempt to block Microsoft's proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
The plaintiffs contended that the company's potential agreement with the Call of Duty maker would result in excessive market control, the exclusion of competitors, restricted product launches, decreased consumer options, and increased pricing.
Now, the gamers' lawsuit has been dismissed by the judge on the grounds that there is no evidence to suggest that the deal would have a negative impact on competition in the market. Furthermore, the judge deemed it illogical for Call of Duty to be made exclusive, as it would likely result in a significant reduction in the game's sales for Microsoft.
Still, it is unlikely that the outcome of the case will affect the decision-making process of regulators in the UK, the European Union, and the United States, as the US Federal Trade Commission is already pursuing legal action against Microsoft.
The decision of a group of players to spend money on legal representation and file a lawsuit was surprising to experts, particularly considering that Microsoft is already being sued by the US antitrust regulator.
You can find documents related to the gamers' lawsuit here. Also, don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Instagram and Twitter, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.