The UK competition watchdog is ready to reopen talks with Microsoft after the company agreed to halt legal proceedings over its planned merger with Activision Blizzard.

The technology giant will attempt to restructure the $69bn (£56bn) deal to respond to the Competition and Markets Authority’s concerns after a breakthrough in the United States.

A US judge ruled on Tuesday that Microsoft could go ahead with its acquisition of the video game maker behind Call of Duty.

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The American competition regulator, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), had originally asked the judge to stop the proposed deal on the basis it would give Microsoft, which makes the Xbox gaming console, exclusive access to Activision games before they are available on other platforms.

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Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley turned down the FTC’s bid because it had not successfully shown that the combined firm is likely to pull Call of Duty from Sony PlayStation or “substantially lessen competition” in the relevant gaming markets.

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