# Microsoft’s Acquisition Ambitions Revealed Amid FTC Trial
The legal battle between the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Microsoft has inadvertently laid bare the tech giant’s acquisition aspirations. Although the trial’s proceedings were primarily of legal concern, the inadvertent leak of internal documents has sparked a flurry of speculation within the gaming industry. This disclosure shed light on Microsoft’s 2019 considerations to purchase gaming mammoths, including Square Enix, Bungie, IO Interactive, and even SEGA. These revelations have reignited conversations about Microsoft’s potential future moves.
### SEGA’s Declaration of Independence Amidst Acquisition Rumors
The spotlight fell on SEGA, a storied studio responsible for creating the iconic Sonic the Hedgehog, amidst the swirling acquisition rumors. SEGA’s Chief Operating Officer, Shuji Utsumi, addressed the situation during a CNBC interview. Emphasizing the honor the studio felt due to high-profile interest, Utsumi nevertheless signaled SEGA’s commitment to remaining autonomous. “Many companies are interested. We feel honored,” Utsumi stated, curtly concluding with, “I don’t think this type of transaction is going to happen.”
Analysts and gamers alike perused the leaked communications of Phil Spencer, which highlighted SEGA’s impressive and globally appealing game portfolio. Spencer’s comments suggested that SEGA’s acquisition was intended to enhance the Xbox Game Pass offerings both on gaming consoles and beyond. However, these plans appear to be more wishful thinking, at least for the time being.
### Microsoft’s Successful Acquisition of Activision Blizzard
While SEGA remains out of reach, Microsoft did succeed in one colossal acquisition. After navigating through a sea of regulatory hurdles, Microsoft welcomed Activision Blizzard into its fold at a staggering cost of $69 billion, finalized in October. This acquisition brings a treasure trove of popular titles under Microsoft’s banner, including the likes of Diablo IV, Overwatch 2, Candy Crush Saga, World of Warcraft, and the ever-popular first-person shooter series Call of Duty.
### SEGA and Microsoft: Future Prospects
The gaming community continues to eagerly monitor the developments between SEGA and Microsoft. Additionally, intriguing comments from Osamu Ohashi, a SEGA executive, have come to the forefront. Ohashi has expressed an ambitious goal for Sonic to eclipse Nintendo’s Mario in popularity. Furthermore, Microsoft and various other game studios find themselves in legal hot waters, tackling allegations centered around video game addiction.
This window into Microsoft’s acquisition strategy offers a tantalizing hint of possible future consolidations in the gaming world. Whether further industry-shaping acquisitions are on the horizon remains an enticing question for both gamers and industry watchers alike.