Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard for almost $70 billion

Technology giant Microsoft announced the acquisition of Activision Blizzard in a massive $68.7 billion all-cash deal on Tuesday, January 18.

Activision Blizzard is one of the largest game developers and publishers in the industry with several storied franchises in gaming such as Call of Duty, Warcraft, Starcraft and Diablo. Over the last year they have been struggling with declining player numbers as well as an ongoing scandal over sexual harrassment and misconduct at the workplace.

Also read: Activision Blizzard shareholders call for change in open letter to the company

Third-largest gaming company in the making

Should the deal be approved by the governmental regulation bodies as well as the shareholders the new Microsoft Activision Blizzard would become the third-largest company in the video game sector behind Tencent and Sony.

Microsoft’s press release also focused on their Xbox Games Pass, which has reached 25 million subscribers, and can now look forward to an integration of the Activision Blizzard games to its portfolio.

Bobby Kotick to remain at the helm

For now Microsoft have not said anything about changes in the management should the merger go through without issues. In ther statement they said that “Bobby Kotick will continue to serve as CEO of Activision Blizzard, and he and his team will maintain their focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company’s culture and accelerate business growth.”

This is despite the ongoing scandal of sexual discrimination and harrasment at Activision Blizzard, that has also implicated Kotick.

Also read:

• Video Game Releases – The Biggest Xbox Games coming in 2022
• CEO of Activision Blizzard Bobby Kotick knew about the sexual misconduct at Activision Blizzard for years
• Activision Blizzard claims to have fired over 20 employees following workspace culture lawsuits

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Image Credits: Microsoft