IN huge gaming news has been released today. Microsoft has announced they will be buying Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion. This will significantly accelerate Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console, and cloud and will deliver building blocks for the metaverse. Not only that, but it will qualify for the addition of Blizzard games on Game Pass which should make it even more attractive for gamers. Acquiring precious franchises such as Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Candy Crush will go a long way towards creating an even more loyal fanbase.
Activision CEO Bobby Kottick will be CEO until the sale is complete, and then after that, he will report to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft Gaming. They say they are doing this to allow Kottick to maintain his focus on driving efforts to further strengthen the company’s culture. This would have been a wonderful time to bring in someone new to help fix all the issues with a culture that have gone on under Kottick. People adore Activision Blizzard games, but listening about the terrible work environment has really turned people off the company. Hopefully, he will be up to the mission of resolving all the problems within the company.
When the transaction is completed, Microsoft will become the world’s third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony.