US judge pauses Microsoft’s Activision buy

SAN FRANCISCO: A US federal judge on Tuesday temporarily blocked Microsoft from completing its $69 billion buyout of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, a court filing showed.

Judge Edward Davila said in a ruling that it “is necessary to maintain the status quo” while the court considers a longer term injunction on the purchase as requested by regulators at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

A hearing was set for June 22 and June 23 in San Francisco federal court to hear evidence in the matter, according to the ruling.