Washington, Dec. 21 (BNA): A group of gamers has filed a lawsuit to block Microsoft from buying video game publisher Activision Blizzard, arguing that the $68.7 billion acquisition would stifle competition and reduce consumer choice.
The lawsuit was filed late Tuesday in US federal court in San Francisco on behalf of 10 individual gamers who are fans of Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty franchise and other popular titles like World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Diablo.
Microsoft is facing a number of legal challenges as it tries to finalize what will be the most expensive technology merger ever, the AP reports.
The Federal Trade Commission sued earlier this month to block the acquisition, saying it could block competitors to Microsoft’s Xbox game console and its growing subscription game business. Antitrust regulators in the UK and the European Union are also investigating the deal.
Several of the plaintiffs in the private antitrust lawsuit said they play Activision Blizzard games on Sony PlayStation, the main competitor to Microsoft’s Xbox. Others said they play it on PC, Xbox, or Nintendo Switch.
In response to the lawsuit, Microsoft said on Wednesday that the merger “will broaden competition and create more opportunities for gamers and game developers as we strive to bring more games to more people.”
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