Microsoft defeats gamers’ bid to block $69 bln Activision deal in US court

[1/2] Activision games “Call of Duty” are pictured in a store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 18, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri May 22 (Reuters) – Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) evaded a potential early legal obstacle in its $69 billion deal to acquire “Call of Duty” videogame maker Activision Blizzard Inc (ATVI.O), when a U.S. judge on Friday refused to allow gamers in a private suit to preliminarily block the acquisition. The private plaintiffs sued Microsoft in California federal court in December to enjoin the deal, which they called harmful to competition. U.S. District Judge Jacqueline…