US Senator Bernie Sanders has openly praised the Federal Trade Commission's efforts to block the Microsoft acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The deal turned heads with a stunning $69 billion deal, but concerns regarding exclusivity and monopolization have continued to be an issue.The FTC is now suing to block the purchase, which has stated that the acquisition would give Microsoft too much power, giving it control over pricing, the quality of the games produced, and which systems they are released on. Microsoft has attempted to combat these claims by offering 10 year guarantees of bringing Call of Duty to various platforms, including the Nintendo Switch, but it seems this move wasn't enough to prevent the FTC from pursuing legal action.RELATED: Microsoft Launches Site to Explain Benefits of Activision Blizzard AcquisitionIn the recent tweet coming directly from Bernie Sanders' account, the Senator showed support for the FTC, noting his personal opinion on the matter. According to Sanders, the acquisition could potentially lead Microsoft to having too much power in the industry, comparing it to other industries where large companies have acquired competitors, eventually giving them control over pricing and what Americans have available to them. Unlike many politicians criticizing video games in the past, this isn't a slight against gaming, but a comment made in favor of gamers and consumers.

While Sanders' intentions seem to be in the right place, it's also clear that Microsoft is doing everything it can to assure players and companies alike that nothing tremendous will change regarding game pricing or their availability. While Sanders seems to be in favor of Sony's stance on the matter, which has been outward in its concerns regarding the acquisition, recently Gabe Newell, head of Valve, waved away the 10-year guarantee offer to Steam, as he apparently trusts in Microsoft to do the right thing and to ensure that good games from the developer continue to come to PC on Steam.

While this will likely create a speedbump for Microsoft's acquisition to go forward, it may not spell the end. If Microsoft has done enough to assure the feds that nothing substantial will change to potentially harm competitors or consumers, it may still be able to proceed. In any case, the case won't be heard by an administrative process until August 2023. Until then, the acquisition will continue to hang in the balance, with Microsoft likely continuing to do what it can to cement its case. The Activision Blizzard acquisition was initially set to be complete by June, but that is likely on hold now until the case is heard.

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