Fri May 23 17:43:51 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
The Republican-controlled Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dropped two lawsuits initiated during the Biden administration. One lawsuit aimed to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and the other targeted PepsiCo’s pricing practices with Walmart. The FTC cited that pursuing these cases was not in the public interest. The Microsoft-Activision deal has already closed after gaining approval from international regulators, and Microsoft hailed the FTC’s decision as a victory. These moves highlight a shift in the FTC’s priorities under its current leadership, though some Biden-era policies are still being enforced.
**News Article:**
**FTC Abandons Microsoft-Activision Lawsuit in Reversal of Biden-Era Policy**
**WASHINGTON D.C.** – In a significant shift in policy, the Republican-controlled Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has dropped its legal challenge to Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The decision, announced Thursday, marks the second time in one day that the FTC has withdrawn from litigation initiated during the Biden administration.
The FTC stated that continuing the administrative litigation against the merger was not in the “public interest.” Microsoft completed its acquisition of Activision in October 2023 after gaining approval from the United Kingdom’s competition watchdog, despite initial concerns raised by the FTC under its previous leadership.
“We are grateful to the FTC for today’s announcement,” stated Brad Smith, Microsoft’s vice chairman and president, on X. He called the decision “a victory for video game players and for common sense in Washington DC.”
The FTC, then under Democratic Chairwoman Lina Khan, had initially sued to block the acquisition in December 2022, arguing it would give Microsoft an unfair advantage in the gaming market by suppressing competitors’ access to Xbox and Activision’s content. However, the U.S. District Court in Northern California denied the FTC’s request to pause the acquisition, a decision that was upheld by a federal appeals court.
Earlier on Thursday, the FTC also dismissed a lawsuit against PepsiCo alleging unfair pricing practices with Walmart, a case initiated just before the end of the Trump administration. FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson called the PepsiCo case a “dubious political stunt.”
The FTC’s current composition consists of three Republican commissioners, with vacancies for two Democratic appointees. The agency’s shift in approach raises questions about the future of antitrust enforcement under the new leadership. While some Biden-era policies are being re-evaluated, others, such as the recent rule requiring upfront disclosure of fees by ticket sellers and hotels, remain in effect.
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