Call of Duty deal: Microsoft gets early ‘relief’ in the US

Microsoft got a boost in the process of acquiring “Call of Duty” game maker Activision Blizzard when a US court refused to allow gamers in a private suit to preliminarily block the acquisition, a report said. The case was a potential early legal obstacle in its $69 billion deal. Microsoft is yet to get a green light from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to acquire the video game maker.

The private plaintiffs sued Microsoft in California federal court in December calling the deal harmful to competition. A US judge said in a ruling that the gamers did not show they would be “irreparably harmed” if the merger was allowed. Microsoft and its lawyers contended the acquisition would benefit consumers.