Microsoft-Activision case set for pre-trial on Jan. 3

The first pre-trial hearing in the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) case against Microsoft over its $69 billion bid to take over Activision Blizzard has been set for Jan. 3.

The FTC, which enforces antitrust law, asked a judge to block the transaction earlier this month as the merger would allow Microsoft's Xbox to get exclusive access to Activision games, leaving Nintendo consoles and Sony's PlayStation out in the cold.

Microsoft argued that the deal would benefit gamers and gaming companies alike. It also offered to sign a legally binding consent decree with the FTC to provide rivals, including Sony, with Call of Duty games for a decade.

The case is a sign that the Biden administration is seriously enforcing anti-trust regulations.

Antitrust experts say the FTC faces an uphill battle to convince a judge to block the deal as Microsoft’s voluntary concessions allay fears it could dominate the gaming market.