Microsoft has been honing in on the gaming industry for some time now.
In the recent wake of sexual abuse scandals rocking Activision, the company’s reputation has been nearly all but damaged. Now, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Bethesda, the tech giant has moved its sights onto Activision Blizzard. The publisher, which is responsible for big titles like Call of Duty, Diablo, and Overwatch, will now become a Microsoft-owned company. The deal exceeds Microsoft’s purchase of LinkedIn and Bethesda.
CEO Bobby Kotick will also be expected to leave Activision in the wake of the acquisition. Kotick, who had been under fire for the abuse scandals, will no longer be a part of Activision due to this move.
Microsoft will be adding several Activision titles to their highly beloved Game Pass once the deal closes.
Phil Spencer, the CEO of Microsoft’s gaming division, said in a statement:
“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.”
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in a statment:
“We’re investing deeply in world-class content, community and the cloud to usher in a new era of gaming that puts players and creators first and makes gaming safe, inclusive and accessible to all.”
The move will likely position Microsoft as a lead contender in the gaming industry and likely propel the value of Game Pass in the eyes of many consumers around the globe. However, the deal is expected to close in 2023, which is quite a time from now. However, it is still unknown how Microsoft’s purchase of Activision will impact its biggest franchise, Call of Duty. There was also no word on whether or not Microsoft will begin to make Activision games exclusive to its platforms or not. Only time will tell.
Let us know what you think and join the discussion below to give your thoughts on the matter.
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