It is done
After battles with regulators in the UK and the US, Microsoft has officially acquired Activision Blizzard for USD 68.7 billion.
“We love gaming. We play games, create games, and know first-hand how much gaming means to all of us as individuals and collectively, as a community. And today, we officially welcome Activision Blizzard and their teams to Xbox.”
Phil Spencer, Microsoft Gaming CEO
Microsoft Acquires Activision Blizzard
The acquisition means more than nine game studios of Blizzard alone to Xbox Game Studios and 11 locations for mobile gaming developer King will be joining Xbox Game Studios. Additionally, more than 8,500 Activision employees now join the Microsoft team.
Among the franchises under Activision Blizzard include Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and Candy Crush. Other titles under the company include Crash Bandicoot, Spyro, and Farm Heroes Saga.
Activision Blizzard announced though that Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo IV won’t be coming to Xbox Game Pass this year. However, the company’s other titles will added to the subscription service as part of the acquisition.
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick clarified that he will stay until the end of 2023 to aid in the transition.
“I have long said that I am fully committed to helping with the transition,” said Kotick in an email. “Phil has asked me to stay on as CEO of ABK, reporting to him, and we have agreed that I will do that through the end of 2023. We both look forward to working together on a smooth integration for our teams and players.”
Meanwhile, Microsoft reiterated its commitment to the labor neutrality agreement with the Communications Workers of America in June 2022.
“Now, more than sixteen months later, as Microsoft has closed its transaction to acquire Activision Blizzard, we affirm our commitment to our labor principles and innovative approach to union partnerships.”
Brad Smith, Microsoft Vice Chair & President
Last May, the EU gave the company the go-signal to push through with the acquisition.
In case you missed it, the Xbox Game Pass for PC was made available in the Philippines early last year. Read about it here.
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Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
