Microsoft gaming ambitions hobbled as U.S. seeks to block Activision deal

FILE PHOTO: A person walks past a Microsoft store in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., January 20, 2022. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration on Thursday moved to block Microsoft's $69 billion bid to buy "Call of Duty" maker Activision Blizzard, throwing a stumbling block in front of the tech giant's plans to rapidly expand its portfolio of popular games and catch up to bigger rivals.

Microsoft, which owns the Xbox console and game network platform, said in January 2022 that it would buy Activision for $68.7 billion in the biggest gaming industry deal in history.