The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is continuing to oppose the Microsoft-Activision merger with a last-minute appeal against a judge’s ruling, while the big tech companies were voicing their eagerness for the merger they say will not harm competition. The FTC on Thursday night asked (pdf) the San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which…

WASHINGTON—The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Thursday argued in federal court for a preliminary injunction to temporarily block Microsoft’s acquisition of videogame maker Activision Blizzard, which would stop the deal from closing before the government’s case against it is heard by an administrative judge. “If this deal is completed, the combined company … is likely…

SAN FRANCISCO—Microsoft’s planned $69 billion purchase of video game company Activision Blizzard was blocked by a federal judge Tuesday, giving more time for an antitrust review of the deal. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley in San Francisco ruled in support of a temporary restraining order sought by the Federal Trade Commission that will stop…

The European Union (EU) gave its approval to Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard. The decision comes just weeks after the United Kingdom’s merger regulator stunned the gaming industry by vetoing the deal. The EU’s analysis indicated that the acquisition would not harm competition, especially as Microsoft has made a commitment to…

LONDON—Britain will block Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of “Call of Duty” maker Activision Blizzard over concerns it would hinder competition in cloud gaming, dealing an unexpected blow to the biggest-ever deal in gaming. The country’s antitrust regulator said on Wednesday that Microsoft’s commitment to offer access to Activision’s multi-billion dollar “Call of Duty” franchise to…

The debate over potential health consequences from wireless device radiation has officially crossed the virtual threshold. While science remains divided on the health effects of absorbing low-frequency, non-ionizing radiation—like the kind emitted by cell phones and other wireless devices—some virtual reality headsets are well above the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) safety guidelines. The established FCC-safe absorption…

Epic Games, developer of the popular online video game Fortnite, has agreed to pay $520 million in penalties and refunds to settle allegations surrounding alleged violations of children’s privacy and the use of design tricks to dupe millions of players into making unintentional purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the fines, the largest…

A Superior Court judge in Quebec, Canada, has authorized a lawsuit by parents from the region against Epic Games and its Canadian subsidiary, blaming the company for making children addicted to “Fortnite.” According to the three parents who filed the lawsuit (pdf), their children showed symptoms of severe dependence after playing “Fortnite,” including forgoing showering,…

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against the planned merger of tech giant Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, one of the largest videogaming corporations. The federal agency argued the acquisition should be stopped because Microsoft has a record of anti-competitive behavior in the gaming industry, withholding games from other platforms to the benefit…

In a nation first, the Tasmanian centre-right Liberal government is strengthening measures to reduce problem gambling through the introduction of a pre-commitment card, which limits the amount people can spend on poker machines per day, per month, and per year. Deputy Premier and Treasurer Michael Ferguson made the announcement on Thursday in response to the…