Microsoft has successfully completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, the publisher behind popular games like Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The acquisition faced regulatory challenges in both the UK and the US, but Microsoft ultimately closed the deal after winning a legal battle against the Federal Trade Commission and making adjustments to satisfy the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in the UK.
This acquisition marks Microsoft’s largest in history, surpassing the $26 billion purchase of LinkedIn in 2016 and the $7.5 billion acquisition of Bethesda in 2021. It is also a significant move for Microsoft in the gaming industry, positioning the company as the “third-largest gaming company by revenue after Tencent and Sony,” as stated in the initial announcement of the deal.
Microsoft plans to incorporate numerous Activision Blizzard games into Xbox Game Pass, including popular franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, and even Candy Crush, which now belong to Microsoft. However, Activision Blizzard recently clarified that Modern Warfare 3 and Diablo IV will not be available on Xbox Game Pass this year.
With this acquisition, Microsoft will add more than nine game studios from Blizzard’s side to its Xbox Game Studios, as well as game studios in over 11 locations for the mobile gaming division. Additionally, Microsoft has now become a publishing company, with over 8,500 Activision employees joining its ranks.
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