Microsoft announced on Tuesday plans to acquire Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion in an all-cash deal, creating the world’s third-largest gaming company. The deal is expected to close in fiscal year 2023, and Microsoft will acquire all of Activision Blizzard’s outstanding shares for $95 per share.
The acquisition will give Microsoft control over some of the most popular gaming franchises in the world, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Candy Crush, and Overwatch. Microsoft also gets Activision Blizzard’s King mobile gaming division, which is one of the most profitable mobile gaming companies in the world.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statement that the acquisition is “about building the next generation of gaming experiences for people to enjoy wherever they want to play.” He also said that the acquisition will “accelerate the growth in Microsoft’s gaming business across mobile, PC, console, and cloud.”
Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick said in a statement that the deal is “a great opportunity for our employees, customers, and shareholders.” He also said that the deal will “allow us to achieve our full potential and to continue to grow and innovate.”
What does this mean for gamers?
It is too early to say definitively what the acquisition will mean for gamers. However, Microsoft has said that it plans to keep Activision Blizzard’s games available on all platforms, including PlayStation and Xbox. Microsoft has also said that it plans to invest in new games and franchises from Activision Blizzard.
What the future holds
The acquisition of Activision Blizzard is a major event for the gaming industry. Microsoft is now one of the largest gaming companies in the world, and it has control over some of the most popular gaming franchises.
It remains to be seen how Microsoft will integrate Activision Blizzard into its existing gaming business. However, the acquisition has the potential to create new opportunities for gamers, such as new games and franchises, and cross-platform play between Xbox and PlayStation.
Unique insights
One of the most unique insights from the acquisition is Microsoft’s focus on the metaverse. Microsoft has said that it plans to use Activision Blizzard’s games and franchises to create new metaverse experiences.
The metaverse is a virtual world where people can interact with each other and with digital objects. It is still in its early stages of development, but Microsoft believes that it has the potential to revolutionize the way people play games and interact with each other.
Conclusion
Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is a major event for the gaming industry. Microsoft is now one of the largest gaming companies in the world, and it has control over some of the most popular gaming franchises. It remains to be seen how Microsoft will integrate Activision Blizzard into its existing gaming business, but the acquisition has the potential to create new opportunities for gamers.