It’s a real earthquake that has just shaken the world of video games. The American Giant Microsoft announces the acquisition of Activision Blizzard for the record amount of $68.7 billion, an announcement that comes the same day that we learn that several dozen employees of the publisher have been dismissed and hundreds of others have left the company since the revelations of internal harassment.
Microsoft buys Blizzard for $68.7 billion
Following Microsoft’s announcement, Activision Blizzard Group’s stock rose 37% on the stock market before being suspended. As a reminder, Activision Blizzard produces ultra popular licenses such as Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo or even Overwatch. Note that the video game giant also has King, another giant, mobile this time. In addition, according to the good sources of journalist Jason Schreier, usually very knowledgeable, the future of Bobby Kotick at the head of Activision Blizzard would be largely threatened once the deal definitively concluded between Microsoft and the publisher.
Other details of this acquisition will undoubtedly be given in the days (hours?) to come, but it seems almost certain that the Game Pass is the main strategic target of this acquisition. Microsoft has already largely confirmed this in its takeover press release: “ We will offer as many Activision Blizzard games as possible (in the Game Pass, editor’s note)”
