The FTC has decided to file an appeal, challenging the recent verdict from the United States District Court for the Northern District of California on Xbox's planned merger with Activision Blizzard.
This appeal is not likely to change the outcome, but I think this is part of the FTC's strategy, to signal to other companies that any high-profile mergers will be met by a long and protracted legal battle, with all of the costs and consequences that come with it, regardless of outcome.
The appeal will attempt to win a preliminary injunction blocking the Activision Blizzard merger with Xbox ahead of a scheduled trial in August. The deal is currently scheduled to be completed on July 18.
If the deal is not completed by that date, Xbox will be forced to pay $3 billion to Activision Blizzzard and the merger will potentially be opened to renegotiation.
It should be interesting to see how far they let Monopolysoft go in this situation.