US regulator takes legal action to block Microsoft’s takeover of Activision

Microsoft is seeking to buy Activision Blizzard (Jeff Chiu/AP)

A US regulator has taken legal action in a bid to block Microsoft from completing its deal to buy video game company Activision Blizzard.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has asked a San Francisco federal court for a temporary restraining order and injunction to stop Microsoft’s 69 billion dollar (£55bn) purchase of the California company behind hit games such as Call Of Duty, World Of Warcraft and Candy Crush.