US regulators move to block Microsoft’s $69bn Activision Blizzard deal

Federal Trade Commission opposes purchase, which would be largest in video-game industry history, on antitrust grounds

The Federal Trade Commission asked a court to temporarily block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard on Monday, seeking to halt the deal from closing before the government’s case against the $69bn deal is heard.

The FTC said Microsoft and Activision had signaled the deal could close as soon as Friday, and asked a federal judge to block any final agreement before 11.59pm ET on 15 June.