Gaming News
Activision Blizzard Has Officially Been Acquired by Microsoft
After two years, Microsoft has bought Activision Blizzard for $68.7 billion.
So, in some of my earlier posts, I’ve chatted about cool gaming updates. You can find those linked at the end of this one. But today, let’s talk about the crazy news that Microsoft just dropped a whopping $68.7 billion to scoop up Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft has just sealed the deal on what can only be described as the Big Kahuna of acquisitions. It’s the kind of business move that has everyone talking, from the gaming community to Wall Street and beyond. Brace yourself, because it’s a whopper!
Microsoft has dug deep into its pockets and coughed up a staggering $68.7 billion to acquire Activision Blizzard, and it’s got everyone buzzing like a beehive on a hot summer’s day.
Let’s break it down: Microsoft has just pulled off its largest acquisition ever, and this isn’t just a record for them; it’s a thunderclap in the business world that has sent shockwaves reverberating across every industry.
If you thought your wallet felt lighter after buying a new video game, imagine spending nearly $69 billion! Microsoft took a colossal step into the gaming realm by snatching up one of the most prominent players in the industry.
But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for this colossal deal. Microsoft had to face a barrage of regulatory hurdles and scrutiny from various governments worldwide. The epic legal battles unfolded primarily in the United States and the UK.
Microsoft spilled the beans about this jaw-dropping acquisition in February 2022. But the grand finale of this nail-biting saga came just hours after the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) finally gave the green light.
That’s right; it was the last hurdle, the final countdown, the ultimate approval required for Microsoft to slam the deal shut. The CMA’s biggest concern? Cloud gaming.
And to sweeten the deal and smooth things over, Microsoft threw Ubisoft a bone by selling off some cloud-gaming rights. Ubisoft must’ve been ecstatic because they now have streaming rights in perpetuity for all games from Activision Blizzard, both the ones that exist today and those that’ll hit the scene in the next 15 years. Now, that’s a pretty sweet deal!
In terms of cold, hard cash, Microsoft is shelling out $95 per share to make Activision Blizzard theirs. To put it into perspective, their previous record-breaking purchase was LinkedIn, a mere $26.2 billion back in 2016.
For all you gaming enthusiasts out there, don’t hold your breath for Activision or Blizzard games to show up on Game Pass today, or even anytime in the near future. Microsoft took to Twitter to break the news, stating that the work “can now begin” to bring those epic games to Game Pass. They tantalizingly added:
“We can’t wait to share more details in the coming months.”
So, be patient, dear gamers, your time will come.
Phil Spencer, the big cheese in Microsoft Gaming, was positively beaming as he shared his thoughts on this colossal deal. In a statement, he declared:
“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.”
It’s a big promise, but it’s clear that Microsoft is in this for the long haul.
And this deal’s journey wasn’t a straightforward sprint to the finish line. Originally, Microsoft and Activision had a deadline set for July 18, but they hit some hurdles along the way.
They decided to renegotiate the terms and extended the deadline to October 18. It was like a high-stakes game of chess, and they made their moves carefully.
Final Words
Here’s the deal in a nutshell: Microsoft now has Activision Blizzard under its wing, and it’s not just the company, it’s the entire enchilada.
That means they’ve got a piece of every gaming pie, from Call of Duty to Diablo, Overwatch, and Warcraft, not to mention King’s popular Candy Crush games.
You could say they’ve put the gaming world in their pocket.
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References
Microsoft completes $69bn deal to buy Call of Duty maker Activision Blizzard.
Microsoft Officially Acquires Activision Blizzard, Nearly Two Years Later.
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