Both Microsoft and Activision were hoping that their planned acquisition would be completed this year, but the latest Federal Trade Commission (FTC) schedule suggests that the deal could be delayed into 2024. The scheduling order reveals final hearings on the case won’t even begin until August 2, 2023, and are likely to last for months.
Will the Microsoft Activision deal be completed in 2023?
The new FTC scheduling order shows the final prehearing conference won’t begin until 1 PM ET on August 1, with the hearing then due to begin properly at 10 AM ET on August 2. The months before this are to be spent submitting evidence, motions, and responses to any of the allegations raised so far. As reported by GamesRadar, this date would only mark the beginning of the hearings, which are expected to last for several months. If such a delay is to happen then the Microsoft Activision deal could be delayed into 2024.
So far the FTC has become known for its opposition to the deal. At the start of December, they declared they would block the deal on the grounds it would allow Microsoft to suppress competitors to Xbox and Game Pass. Microsoft then accused the regulator of being “unconstitutional” before rapidly backtracking on its controversial statement. Regardless, the arguments look set to continue for a significant period of time.
