Microsoft’s general response to the allegations made against it during a court proceeding in a case brought against it by the US Federal Trade Commission for their acquisition of Activision-Blizzard was that its $69 billion bid to buy the “Call of Duty” maker would greatly benefit gamers and consumers regardless of the ecosystem they are already in.

After FTC commissioners argued the acquisition would eliminate competition in the gaming industry in a complaint this month meant to block the merger, Microsoft filed a brief with the US Federal Trade Commission’s judge arguing that the merger should be approved.

On December 8th, the FTC filed a complaint expressing worry that Activision’s popular titles, such as “World of Warcraft” and “Diablo,” could no longer be available on devices competing with Microsoft’s Xbox. The date for the hearing before an administrative law judge is August 2023.

Midway through December, Microsoft president Brad Smith said that the corporation had proposed to sign a legally enforceable consent decree with the FTC to distribute “Call of Duty” games to competitors like Sony and others for a decade.

Third-place console maker acquiring one game won’t be enough to shake up a cutthroat business. Microsoft argued as much in a document released on Thursday. “That is especially the case when the maker has made plain it would not withhold the game.”

Smith stated in a statement released this week that although he was “dedicated to innovative solutions with regulators,” he was still confident in the company’s legal position.

In a statement released on Thursday, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick expressed confidence that his company will ultimately win its legal battle with the Federal Trade Commission.

The antitrust enforcement effort has increased during the Biden administration. Earlier this month, the US Department of Justice blocked a $2.2 billion merger between Penguin Random House, the biggest book publisher in the world, and smaller US competitor Simon & Schuster.

The Microsoft merger is also being scrutinised internationally, with the European Union promising a decision on whether to approve or prohibit the transaction by March23, 2023.