Microsoft Successfully Concludes Acquisition of Activision Blizzard King
Microsoft has achieved a significant milestone by finalizing its acquisition of Activision Blizzard King. This strategic move consolidates all the franchises and a multitude of talented developers within the expansive umbrella of Xbox Game Studios, as declared by Phil Spencer, the head of Microsoft Gaming.
This monumental deal, which had been in the works for nearly two years since Microsoft first announced its intention in January 2007, has now received the green light from UK's Competition and Markets, a crucial regulatory step that took place early last Friday. Microsoft navigated a complex regulatory landscape, gaining approvals from entities such as the European Commission, the US Federal Trade Commission, and others. The acquisition, valued at $68.7 billion, is a monumental development in the gaming industry, bearing in mind that Microsoft's acquisition of Bethesda in 2020 for $7.5 billion was already considered a significant transaction.
The incorporation of Activision Blizzard King into Xbox Game Studios now encompasses a vast array of beloved franchises, including but not limited to Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft, Starcraft, Overwatch, Crash Bandicoot, and many more. Additionally, it brings the mobile gaming sensation, Candy Crush, under the same roof. On the developer side, renowned names such as Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, and others join the Microsoft family, alongside the prominent mobile game creator, King.
Activision Blizzard had previously announced its intentions to introduce some of these iconic titles to Xbox Game Pass in 2024, pending the finalization of the deal. In his acquisition announcement, Phil Spencer confirmed that Xbox Game Studios is now poised to embark on the work of integrating these beloved franchises into Game Pass and various other platforms. Moreover, they are committed to fulfilling promises made to various regulatory bodies.
"As one team, we’ll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to bring the joy and community of gaming to more people," stated Phil Spencer in his announcement. "Together, we’ll create new worlds and stories, bring your favorite games to more places so more players can join in, and we’ll engage with and delight players in new, innovative ways in the places they love to play, including mobile, cloud streaming, and more."
Notably, the current CEO of Activision Blizzard, Bobby Kotick, will retain his position as CEO until the end of this year and will report directly to Phil Spencer. The implications and outcomes of this monumental deal for these iconic franchises are eagerly awaited by the gaming community.
