Microsoft buys the next publisher giant. As the Xbox Group announced in a recent blog entry, it intends to take over Publisher Activision. The Wall Street Journal reports that the acquisition will cost Microsoft around 70 billion US dollars. Activision is responsible for popular game series such as Call of Duty, Warcraft, Diablo, Starcraft and Overwatch. “As a team, we’re on a mission to expand the gaming community for everyone on the planet,” writes Xbox CEO Phil Spencer, adding that it’s incredibly exciting to announce Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard.
Call of Duty, Diablo, WoW and Co. soon at Microsoft
Over many decades, Activision Blizzard’s studios and teams have earned the respect of billions of gamers around the world. “We are extremely excited to work with the amazing and talented people at Activision Publishing, Blizzard Entertainment, Beenox, Demonware, Digital Legends, High Moon Studios, Infinity Ward, King, Major League Gaming, Radical Entertainment, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Toys for Bob and Treyarch to work together,” the Xbox boss continued.
Bobby Kotick will initially remain Activision CEO
As many Activision Blizzard games as possible should appear within the Xbox Game Pass, the Xbox blog continues – both new and existing games from the Activision catalogue. Game Pass currently has 25 million subscribers, the company also announced today. Activision’s individual franchises would also advance Microsoft’s plans for cloud gaming. Microsoft wants to continue platforms like battle.net. Information on possible upcoming Xbox exclusive releases of well-known games such as Call of Duty, Diablo and Co. is not yet available.
Until the purchase is completed, Microsoft and Activision are still working independently. The controversial Activision boss Bobby Kotick will initially remain in his role as CEO, after the deal Activision will report to Xbox boss Phil Spencer. Details on Kotick’s future are not yet available. Activision recently hit the headlines because of a sexism and abuse scandal. In 2020, Microsoft had already acquired the publishing giant Bethesda for $7.5 billion.
