The following statement can be attributed to George Rakis, Executive Director for NextGen Competition (nextgencomp.tech):

We applaud the FTC for seeking an injunction and believe it’s the appropriate response to Microsoft’s escalating threats against regulators worldwide. The Commission must stand firm in the face of bullying, name-calling, and threats from both Microsoft and Activision’s leadership. We’ve always known that Microsoft’s “nice guy” reputation in Washington, D.C., wouldn’t last once the company came into the regulator’s crosshairs.

While the “nice guy” facade may have worked in the EU, the FTC isn’t backing down, nor should they. They’ve raised countless antitrust issues that clearly show how this merger will harm long-term competition in the video game industry—and, more importantly, consumer choice.

About NextGen Competition

Our mission is to support a robust and competitive technology ecosystem by opposing anti-competitive business practices and promoting greater industry accountability. Specifically, we oppose consolidation in the industry that undermines worker protections and employer accountability, threatens data privacy and security, encourages market concentration, and limits consumer choice. NextGen Competition intends to work with a broad coalition of unions and public interest partners as it seeks to oppose anti-competitive business practices.