Microsoft Makes Its Largest Buyout With $70B Activision Blizzard Acquisition

Microsoft has officially made its largest acquisition to date, having agreed to take over video game company Activision Blizzard, which has been plagued by scandals in recent months. 

According to CNET, the US$68.7 billion deal will turn Microsoft into the world’s third-largest game maker. The buyout will allow the firm to expand its gaming repertoire to include some of the industry’s leading video game titles, including Call of Duty, Candy Crush, and World of Warcraft.

“Together with Activision Blizzard, we have an incredible opportunity to invest and innovate to create the best content, community, and cloud for gamers,” said Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella.

The New York Times reported that the company has said its newest addition will help its journey into the metaverse, coming up against the likes of Facebook’s parent company, Meta. 

The deal also aids Microsoft in gaining an advantage over its present competitors in the gaming space, such as Sony and its PlayStation, as well as newer rivals Amazon and Google who’ve recently stepped onto the scene.

It could mean an entry for the firm into the world of mobile gaming, of which Microsoft is not a leading player in at the moment. No doubt the acquisition will contribute to the expansion of the Xbox, with rumors that Call of Duty could become exclusive to the console if the firm decides to go down that path.

“This is not about short-term results. We’ve seen Activision Blizzard’s product roadmap and are incredibly enthusiastic about what the teams are creating and the company’s pipeline over many years to come,” summed up Microsoft’s gaming head, Phil Spencer.

[via CNET and The New York Times, cover image via Antonio Jodice | Dreamstime.com]