The FTC has filed to block the Xbox-Activision merger

Activision Blizzard lawsuit — (Image credit: Activision Blizzard)

Update: The FTC has filed for a temporary restraining order and injunction to prevent Microsoft from acquiring Activision Blizzard.

As The Verge reports, the FTC complaint says that "both a temporary restraining order and a preliminary injunction are necessary because Microsoft and Activision have represented that they may consummate the proposed acquisition at any time."

"We welcome the opportunity to present our case in federal court," Microsoft president Brad Smith tells the outlet. "We believe accelerating the legal process in the US will ultimately bring more choice and competition to the market."

According to CNBC, the injunction would attempt to stop the acquisition going ahead before its July 18 deadline. However, the decision to block the merger by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority is already likely to delay the deal past that point. Both Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard are appealing that decision.

In a statement provided to CNBC, Microsoft said that it would welcome the reported injunction, as it "would bring the case before a federal judge faster."

Just yesterday, Xbox chief Phil Spencer told journalists that he was still "confident" the deal would be finalised, stating that while the road to getting the deal over the line had been long and challenging, the work that Microsoft has been doing with regulators should be enough to clear it.

It was a massive night for Xbox, so if you need to catch up, check out everything announced at the Xbox Game Showcase.

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for news, shaping the news strategy across the team. I started my journalistic career while getting my degree in English Literature at the University of Warwick, where I also worked as Games Editor on the student newspaper, The Boar. Since then, I've run the news sections at PCGamesN and Kotaku UK, and also regularly contributed to PC Gamer. As you might be able to tell, PC is my platform of choice, so you can regularly find me playing League of Legends or Steam's latest indie hit.