Microsoft moves "another step closer to the finish line" as FTC loses final appeal to prevent the Activision Blizzard acquisition

Soldier's silhouette in light

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has lost its final appeal protesting Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard, enabling the takeover to proceed as planned. 

Microsoft's intended acquisition of Activision Blizzard has come under a great deal of scrutiny from governments the world over, but even though Microsoft won its battle with the FTC when a federal judge ruled in favor of the acquisition, the FTC filed a full notice of appeal with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to reverse the decision.