In a major victory for Microsoft, a federal judge has ruled against the Federal Trade Commission's attempt to block Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The ruling paves the way for the $69 billion deal to go through before the July 18 deadline. The decision by Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley comes after a five-day hearing in the Northern District Court of California, during which high-ranking industry figures testified.

The FTC had argued that the acquisition would harm consumers and lead to less competition in the console gaming market. However, Judge Corley found that the FTC had not provided enough evidence to prove its claim. She stated that the merger would actually provide more consumer access to Activision content, including popular franchises like Call of Duty.

Microsoft's CEO, Satya Nadella, expressed gratitude to the court for the decision, stating that the evidence showed the deal would be beneficial for the gaming industry. The company emphasized that the FTC's concerns about console switching, multi-game subscription services, and cloud technology were not reflective of the realities of the gaming market.

While this ruling is a significant step forward for Microsoft, the deal still faces opposition from the Competition and Markets Authority in the United Kingdom. The FTC also has the option to file an appeal of the decision to a federal appellate court. However, Microsoft remains optimistic and ready to work with regulators to address any remaining concerns so that the merger can be finalized.