The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said on Wednesday that it will appeal a federal judge's decision to let Microsoft buy Activision Blizzard. The $69 billion deal would give Microsoft control of some of the most popular video game franchises in the world, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush.

The FTC had sued to block the deal, arguing that it would harm competition in the video game industry. The judge ruled in favor of Microsoft, saying that the deal would not substantially lessen competition.

In a statement, the FTC said that it "disagrees with the court's decision and believes that the evidence supports the FTC's case." The agency said that it will appeal the decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

The appeal is a setback for Microsoft, but it is not necessarily a fatal blow to the deal. The Ninth Circuit could uphold the judge's decision, or it could send the case back to the lower court for further review.

The outcome of the appeal could have a significant impact on the video game industry. If the deal is allowed to go through, Microsoft would become an even more powerful player in the industry. However, if the deal is blocked, it would send a signal that the FTC is serious about preventing anti-competitive mergers in the tech industry.

Here are some additional details about the appeal:

• The FTC has until Friday to file its appeal.
• The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is located in San Francisco.
• The appeal could take several months or even years to be resolved.

The outcome of the appeal is uncertain, but it is sure to be closely watched by the video game industry and antitrust experts.