Microsoft Set to Acquire Activision Blizzard

Xbox Game Studios adds major titles like Call of Duty, Diablo, Warcraft, Overwatch and more to its portfolio with blockbuster Activision Blizzard acquisition.

Today, Microsoft announced its intention to acquire Activision Blizzard for a whopping $68.7 billion. When the deal is finalized, it will be one of the largest entertainment-based acquisitions ever, and the largest gaming acquisition to date. The blockbuster deal will see Microsoft become the world's third-largest gaming firm by revenue after closing the deal, only behind Tencent and Sony. Xbox will now have 30 internal game development studios and additional publishing and esports production capabilities after the acquisition is completed.

"When the deal is finalized, it will be one of the largest entertainment-based acquisitions ever, and the largest gaming acquisition to date."

Legendary gaming franchises join Xbox Game Studios

Activision Blizzard brings a portfolio of legendary games with it, such as Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more. As per Xbox Wire, "This acquisition will accelerate the growth in Microsoft´s gaming business across mobile, PC, console, and cloud and will provide building blocks for the metaverse." The deal also encompasses worldwide esports activities through Major League Gaming.

"Activision Blizzard brings a portfolio of legendary games with it, such as Call of Duty, Candy Crush, Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Hearthstone, and more."

Activision Blizzard catalog coming to Game Pass

Microsoft's acquisition of the publisher expands its Game Pass offering with plans to bring Activision Blizzard games to the service. This is undoubtedly a huge win for Game Pass subscribers and the gaming community at large. The scope of games that will enter the service hasn't been made immediately clear, but if the Bethesda acquisition is any indication, a lot of games are inbound.

“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,” says Microsoft’s CEO of gaming Phil Spencer. Game Pass looks to be the most compelling and varied gaming content service with Activision Blizzard's nearly 400 million monthly active users in 190 countries and billion-dollar IPs.

"The scope of games that will enter the service hasn't been made immediately clear, but if the Bethesda acquisition is any indication, a lot of games are inbound."

“Over many decades, the studios and teams that make up Activision Blizzard have earned vast wellsprings of joy and respect from billions of people all over the world. We are incredibly excited to have the chance to work with the amazing, talented, dedicated people across 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, Treyarch and every team across Activision Blizzard,” says Spencer.

With one of the biggest acquisitions in entertainment history, Microsoft is poised to double down on its vision for gaming. Bringing Activision Blizzard into the fold offers one of the most diverse 1st party gaming publishers in the industry. What do you think about the new deal? Sound off in the comments below.