Microsoft has officially acquired Activision Blizzard, a renowned company behind popular franchises like Call of Duty, Overwatch, and Diablo.
This acquisition, valued at a staggering $68.7 billion, was announced back in January 2022 and has recently gained approval from the U.K’s Competition and Markets Authority, marking a significant milestone in this deal.
This strategic move places Activision Blizzard under the Xbox‘s first-party studio umbrella, expanding the Xbox’s gaming portfolio significantly. The head of Xbox, Phil Spencer, has shared his enthusiasm about welcoming these influential teams to Xbox and has expressed a strong commitment to fostering inclusivity and creating innovative gaming experiences.
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Microsoft is expected to bring fresh opportunities and exciting additions to the Xbox Game Pass, much to the anticipation of gamers worldwide.
Spencer says: “I’ve long admired the work at Activision Blizzard, and King, and the impact they’ve had on gaming, entertainment, and pop culture,” noting that some of his most memorable gaming moments happened in games Activision Blizzard and mobile giant King created. “It is incredible to welcome such legendary teams to Xbox,” he says.
“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. We’ll do this in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, where all people are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing commitment of Gaming for Everyone. We are intentional about inclusion and everything we do at Xbox – from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a wider gaming community.
“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.”