WASHINGTON: The US Federal Trade Commission on Dec 8 sued to block Microsoft’s US$69bil (RM303.51bil) buyout of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, maker of the blockbuster Call Of Duty title, over concerns that it would stifle competition.

The lawsuit marks one of the biggest ever interventions by the US government to stop consolidation in the tech industry and raises significant doubts on the future of the transaction.