FTC's Lina Khan could greenlight Activision merger to avoid split vote fallout

Sources say a Democratic commissioner at the FTC lead to a split vote in the Microsoft-Activision merger, which could lead to the deal being approved.

FTC's Lina Khan could greenlight Activision merger to avoid split vote fallout
Published Dec 4, 2022 10:32 PM CST   |   Updated Sun, Dec 4 2022 10:53 PM CST
1 minute & 27 seconds read time

The FTC could greenlight the $68.7 billion Microsoft-Activision merger in order to avoid a tie vote, sources tell The New York Post.

FTC's Lina Khan could greenlight Activision merger to avoid split vote fallout 1

FTC Chairperson Lina Khan could give her blessing to the Microsoft-Activision merger in order to avoid potential fallout from a split vote. The FTC currently has four members of its panel that are scrutinizing the merger including three Democrats (Lena Khan, Rebecca Slaughter, and Alvaro Bedoya) and one Republican (Christine Wilson).

Sources say that Wilson and Slaughter may vote to approve the merger, with Khan and Bedoya moving to block it, leading to a split tie vote. Sources say this could undermine Lina Khan's authority over the regulator and she would instead proceed to approve the merger.

"Lina would probably not put things in a position for that to take place, so instead of having that vote she would make the motion to approve the settlement,"former FTC Chairman William Kovacic told the New York Post.

Previous reports indicated that the FTC was preparing to block the deal with a potential lawsuit.

Microsoft has a significant offer as a pre-emptive strike against oppositions from Sony Corp., who has been the most vocal in their disapproval of the deal. Sony claims that Microsoft would have too much market power across the subscription market thanks to the $31 billion Call of Duty franchise, and Xbox would become a one-stop shop for first-person shooters if it were able to attain Activision's franchises.

As a remedy, Microsoft has offered Sony a 10-year licensing agreement to keep Activision-Blizzard games on PlayStation, namely the lucrative Call of Duty franchise--which Microsoft is expected to significantly disrupt by way of its Xbox Game Pass strategy.

Buy at Amazon

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II

TodayYesterday7 days ago30 days ago
$82.09$69.94$59.99
* Prices last scanned on 12/26/2022 at 5:53 pm CST - prices may not be accurate, click links above for the latest price. We may earn an affiliate commission.
NEWS SOURCE:nypost.com

Derek joined the TweakTown team in 2015 and has since reviewed and played 1000s of hours of new games. Derek is absorbed with the intersection of technology and gaming, and is always looking forward to new advancements. With over six years in games journalism under his belt, Derek aims to further engage the gaming sector while taking a peek under the tech that powers it. He hopes to one day explore the stars in No Man's Sky with the magic of VR.

Newsletter Subscription

    Related Tags

    Newsletter Subscription
    Latest News
    View More News
    Latest Reviews
    View More Reviews
    Latest Articles
    View More Articles