Microsoft’s $69 Billion Activision Deal Gets Early Court Win (1)

Microsoft Corp. tentatively defeated a bid by video gamers to block its planned $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard Inc.

Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley tossed the case without prejudice, calling it woefully short on detail. Although the antitrust lawsuit suggests Microsoft may break its promise to keep popular games like the Call of Duty franchise available on competing platforms, that possibility isn’t enough, the judge said.

“Why? How?” she wrote. “Is it possible Microsoft will make Activision’s game catalog fully or partially exclusive? Yes. Have plaintiffs alleged facts that make it plausible Microsoft is reasonably likely to do so? ...