The Federal Trade Commission is said to be leaning toward appealing Microsoft – Activision’s loss

The US Federal Trade Commission is reportedly leaning “towards” an appeal of Tuesday’s ruling against the body’s attempt to block the Microsoft/Activision Blizzard merger.

according to bloombergAlthough no decision was made, an appeal could be filed “as early as Wednesday,” according to his source, who was said to be aware of the deliberations.

On Tuesday, Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California denied the FTC’s request for a preliminary injunction.

Had it been granted, the injunction would have prevented the $69 billion deal from completing until the U.S. regulator’s internal court had a chance to rule whether the merger harmed competition in the gaming industry.

Judge Corley ruled that the FTC did not prove that a takeover would harm competition in the Games.

But US District Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley extended a restraining order preventing Microsoft from completing the deal until Friday. In order to appeal, the FTC will have to go to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to extend this stay.

The United Kingdom’s competition watchdog has halted legal proceedings with Microsoft and Activision Blizzard with the aim of reaching an agreement on a proposed merger of the gaming companies, after the deal cleared in the United States.

Pending the outcome of a potential appeal by the Federal Trade Commission, the ruling removes one of the last major hurdles preventing the deal from closing. The European Commission approved Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard in May.