Microsoft's acquisition of Activision Blizzard is now finalized

Microsoft has completed its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard.

Following the completion of the largest-ever game industry deal the Xbox producer now owns key console and PC titles such as Call of Duty, Warcraft, and Diablo.

The company also acquired significant ground in mobile gaming with the introduction of the Candy Crush inventor, King.

Infinity Ward, Raven Software, Sledgehammer Games, Treyarch, Toys for Bob, Beenox, and High Moon Studios are among the other developers who have joined Xbox Game Studios.

Microsoft's Head of gaming, Phil Spencer, said, "As one team, we'll learn, innovate, and continue to deliver on our promise to offer the joy and community of gaming to more people. "We'll do it in a culture that strives to empower everyone to do their best work, is welcoming to all people, and is centered on our ongoing commitment to Gaming for Everyone."

"Inclusion is intentional in everything we do at Xbox, from our team to the products we make and the stories we tell, to the way our players interact and engage as a larger gaming community."

It has always been our policy to first place players first. As we expand, players will still be central to everything we shall do. You’ll continue to hear from us. Create an environment where people are real; let developers do what they are good at because developing is so much fun!

Similarly, we’re still increasing our number of games in other territories. In fulfillment of a promise to the European Commission, we have made the cloud version of the streaming service usable for Activision Blizzard games and their players within the EEA.

Today is a great day for gamers everywhere. Together with Activision Blizzard, we will deliver on our vision to help people connect and play great games wherever, whenever, and however they want. https://t.co/NIpF6yz2a9

— Satya Nadella (@satyanadella) October 13, 2023

We’ve begun the process of bringing the hit Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises onto Game Pass and other platforms. Over the coming weeks let us elaborate on your expected game dates. This is because we are all thrilled as well!.

It is worth noting that Activision Blizzard had already announced a few days before that the company would add its titles to Game Pass, starting with 2024, upon approval of the deal.

Today it was also reported that Bobby Kotick, the long-serving chief executive of Activision Blizzard, would remain in that job till the end of 2023. He will be working under Spener’s supervision while also assisting Xbox C.E.O. in the transition.

“It’s a great day for gaming around the world, and that is all I can say,” said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. By joining hands with Activision Blizzard, we hope to achieve our vision of enabling people to connect and play fabulous gambling games anytime, anywhere, and anyhow they like.

Today is a good day to play. We officially welcome Activision Blizzard King to Team Xbox. Together, we’ll create stories and experiences that bring players together, in a culture empowering everyone to do their best work and celebrate diverse perspectives. https://t.co/KBCESknYYh https://t.co/jTHOeH48Wx

— Phil Spencer (@XboxP3) October 13, 2023

In January 2022, Microsoft made clear that it would be purchasing Activision Blizzard. Since then, the company has had to put up a struggle to allay the worries of some international competition regulators who claimed that the merger may give the combined company an unfair advantage.

The idea that Microsoft would restrict Call of Duty to Xbox and PC was one of the main issues.

However, Call of Duty will continue to be available on PlayStation once the deal closes, according to a contract struck this summer by Microsoft and Sony. This is thought to be a 10-year agreement.

It’s a big day for us. Today, we join Team @Xbox. All of our history and success leading to this moment is because of you – our incredible gaming community. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.https://t.co/OjQgIed2nN

— Activision Blizzard (@ATVI_AB) October 13, 2023

It was also believed that Microsoft would get an unfair advantage in the cloud gaming sector as a result of the agreement.

The Xbox manufacturer signed a series of long-term game distribution deals with cloud gaming companies in an effort to remedy this, which helped the deal win the support of the European Commission.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority eventually approved the merger earlier today, but Microsoft had to do more to win their approval.

Only after Microsoft agreed to sell Ubisoft cloud gaming rights outside the European Economic Area for all Activision Blizzard titles released over the following fifteen years was it given approval.

Microsoft still faces opposition from the regulator to the merger after winning a legal battle with the US Federal Trade Commission, which also sought to halt the acquisition due to antitrust concerns but lacked the authority to do so on its own.