The first pre-trial hearing in the blockbuster trial between the Federal Trade Commission and Microsoft over its attempted purchase of Activision Blizzard is set for January 3. The case, which will likely determine whether or not the largest gaming merger in history will actually go through, will also have profound effects on the industry at large, regardless of the ultimate outcome. The hearing is scheduled for 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT, and you can listen to it live.
As revealed in the initial complaint filed by the commission, the FTC alleges that the transaction would result in Microsoft consoles having exclusive access to Activision’s games, which would lessen competition in the video game space. The FTC’s complaint particularly focuses on Call of Duty as a “key product franchise,” and one that is important to Microsoft’s strategy. Come from Sports betting site VPbet