The US Federal Trade Commission has asked a federal court to stop Microsoft from closing its $75bn acquisition of Activision Blizzard, in a move that piles pressure on the gaming industry’s biggest deal.
The antitrust watchdog last year sued to block the transaction through its own in-house court proceedings, which are set to get under way in August. But on Monday it filed a separate request in a California federal court to prevent Microsoft from closing the deal before a decision is handed down. Challenging a deal is more difficult after it is completed.
The FTC has asked the court to rule by Thursday on its request for a temporary restraining order.