Microsoft looking to buy Activision Blizzard for $68.7 Billion

[Free]

Microsoft to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion

Satya Nadella says the deal “will play a key role in the development of metaverse platforms.”

www.theverge.com

Microsoft is acquiring Activision, the troubled publisher of Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Diablo. The deal will value Activision at $68.7 billion, far in excess of the $26 billion Microsoft paid to acquire LinkedIn in 2016. It’s Microsoft’s biggest push into gaming, and the company says it will be the “third-largest gaming company by revenue, behind Tencent and Sony” once the deal closes.

Microsoft plans to add many of Activision’s games to Xbox Game Pass once the deal closes. With the acquisition of Activision, Microsoft will soon publish franchises like Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call of Duty and Candy Crush. “Upon close, we will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as we can within Xbox Game Pass and PC Game Pass, both new titles and games from Activision Blizzard’s incredible catalog,” says Xbox chief Phil Spencer.

It's all about the metaverse. Sure.

 

[CronoCloud Creeggan]

No, just...no. The Great Satan of Redmond does NOT need to buy any more studios, not even the shithole that is Activision.

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

It makes sense in a way, after the brain drain of the previous years, scandals and bad press lately Activision Blizzard became quite a bargain, although they've got still enough established up and running franchises under their umbrella.

 

[Kalel]

With the way the company was spiraling down. this was probably the best deal they could get. their portfolio will certainly help Pad Microsofts power in gaming market.

another big company gone in the market and growing monopoly.. this could be good and bad sign depending on how you think.

 

[Beebo Brink]

The biggest challenge for Microsoft will be changing the Blizzard culture. But for any minorities and women at the company, this is a big boost. Microsoft takes that harassment shit seriously.

 

[Clara D.]

Eventually everything entertaining will be Microsoft and Disney.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

Business Insider is reporting claims that part of the deal is that after a transition period Kotick will be leaving.

 

[Cristiano]

Xbox chief offers hope to PS5 gamers after Activision Blizzard deal

The newly-minted CEO of Microsoft Gaming says he has no plans to ‘pull communities’ away from PlayStation following the Xbox-maker’s purchase of Activision Blizzard. Phil Spencer, who was just promoted from Head of Xbox, told Bloomberg that – under Microsoft’s watch – the scandal-hit Activision...

www.trustedreviews.com

 

[Bartholomew Gallacher]

The biggest challenge for Microsoft will be changing the Blizzard culture. But for any minorities and women at the company, this is a big boost. Microsoft takes that harassment shit seriously.

I doubt that, because whatever culture Blizzard had which made them special left the company during the last few years already.

 

[Free]

Eventually everything entertaining will be Microsoft and Disney.

And now all restaurants are Taco Bell.

 

[Noodles]

And now all restaurants are Taco Bell.

Can they all at lwast be like, Wendy's? Or maybe Dairy Queen? If we HAVE to goneoth Tacos I would prefer Qdoba or Chipotle.

 

[NyteWytch]

No, just...no. The Great Satan of Redmond does NOT need to buy any more studios, not even the shithole that is Activision.

These kind of takes confuse me. Do people prefer that these troubled games and publishers die rather have potential to continue making games?

All these troubled studios were very much in trouble of folding. Microsoft backing gives them security to turn it around and hopefully (to be determined) thrive. Would people rather just lose their favorite IPs than let microsoft provide a home to struggling developers?

I love gaming. I personally would prefer games and IPs to have a chance at success rather than go quietly into history.

 

[Khamon]

The best MMORPG I ever played was maintained by Turbine under the Microsoft umbrella. It ran for fifteen years, with monthly content and storyline updates, then another three years in maintenance mode. I don't remember the players or devs complaining that Microsoft interfered with production or gameplay in all that time.

 

[Free]

Can they all at lwast be like, Wendy's? Or maybe Dairy Queen? If we HAVE to goneoth Tacos I would prefer Qdoba or Chipotle.

I don't set the future.

 

[Khamon]

Tacos for Everybody!

 

[Free]

What Xbox will likely do with its $68B purchase of Activision Blizzard King

Breaking down Microsoft's highest-priced gaming acquisition ever—with Kotick quotes.

arstechnica.com

 

[Essence Lumin]

I fear for Bethesda and that Microsoft will take all the personality out of the games (and maybe a lot of the bugs which is a plus). In the entire history of Microsoft, they have never released anything but stuff with a boring personality. That isn't to say they don't have good computer products. Some are very good. I don't recall every playing a game made by Microsoft. Bethesda may have taken an arrow to the knee.


Microsoft's version of trying to appeal to their employees' emotion is embarrassing.

 

[Clara D.]

I fear for Bethesda and that Microsoft will take all the personality out of the games (and maybe a lot of the bugs which is a plus). In the entire history of Microsoft, they have never released anything but stuff with a boring personality. That isn't to say they don't have good computer products. Some are very good. I don't recall every playing a game made by Microsoft. Bethesda may have taken an arrow to the knee.

I still get mileage out of Rise of Nations, tho I cheese it and always play the Russians.

 

[NyteWytch]

I fear for Bethesda and that Microsoft will take all the personality out of the games (and maybe a lot of the bugs which is a plus). In the entire history of Microsoft, they have never released anything but stuff with a boring personality. That isn't to say they don't have good computer products. Some are very good. I don't recall every playing a game made by Microsoft. Bethesda may have taken an arrow to the knee.

Todd Howard did plenty to soil Bethesda before Microsoft got anywhere near it.

I personally wouldn't put Phil Spencer in the same circle as Ballmer...that dude was a trainwreck. Spencer has really been a good thing for xbox games.

 

[Dakota Tebaldi]

I don't recall every playing a game made by Microsoft.

Aww, no Age of Empires?