US FTC moves to block Microsoft-Activision deal

Despite making concessions to any state-level agency that will listen, Microsoft's would-be purchase of mega-game publisher Activision Blizzard continues to run into regulatory hurdles. The latest obstacle for the deal is the United States Federal Trade Commission, which has filed an injunction and restraining order to block the nearly $70 billion purchase from going through. The following proceedings will determine whether the US government allows the largest deal in video game history to proceed. The various steps in the regulatory process are complicated, but competently explained by the Associated Press. Essentially, the FTC had already signaled its opposition to the Microsoft-Activision deal on anti-trust grounds late last year but had not completed the process of formally blocking the merger.