Microsoft has formally introduced that it has accomplished its proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard King for $68.7 billion. The acquisition was introduced virtually two years in the past in January 2022. Moreover, it was confirmed that Bobby Kotick will step down because the CEO of Activision Blizzard on the finish of 2023. The announcement follows the current official approval of the deal by the UK antitrust regulator Competitors and Markets Authority (CMA) who notably blocked the deal again in April attributable to cloud gaming considerations. Nevertheless, in response to this, Microsoft offered Activision Blizzard’s cloud streaming rights to Ubisoft, permitting the CMA to launch a brand new investigation that resulted in its current approval of the deal. Consequently, Microsoft now has all the mandatory approval from worldwide regulatory boards to permit the deal to lastly be full. A brand new trailer formally saying the merger of Xbox and Activision Blizzard was additionally launched.
In August this 12 months Microsoft made a concession that might see Ubisoft, as an alternative of Microsoft, purchase Activision’s cloud gaming rights. This new deal will put the cloud streaming rights (outdoors the European Financial Space) for all of Activision’s PC and console content material produced over the following 15 years within the arms of a powerful and impartial competitor with formidable plans to supply new methods of accessing that content material.
On account of this concession, the Competitors and Markets Authority agreed to look afresh on the deal and launched a brand new investigation in August. That investigation has accomplished as we speak with the Competitors and Markets Authority clearing this narrower transaction.
The brand new deal will cease Microsoft from locking up competitors in cloud gaming as this market takes off, preserving aggressive costs and companies for United Kingdom cloud gaming clients. It would permit Ubisoft to supply Activision’s content material underneath any enterprise mannequin, together with via multigame subscription companies. It would additionally assist to make sure that cloud gaming suppliers will have the ability to use non-Home windows working methods for Activision content material, lowering prices and growing effectivity.
The total message from Phil Spencer relating to the announcement:
We love gaming. We play video games, create video games, and know first-hand how a lot gaming means to all of us as people and collectively, as a neighborhood. And as we speak, we formally welcome Activision Blizzard and their groups to Xbox. They’re the publishers of among the most performed and most beloved franchises in gaming historical past throughout console, PC and cell. From Pitfall to Name of Responsibility, World of Warcraft to Overwatch, Sweet Crush Saga to Farm Heroes Tremendous Saga, their studios have pushed the boundaries of gaming for gamers world wide.
I’ve lengthy admired the work of Activision, Blizzard, and King, and the influence they’ve had on gaming, leisure, and popular culture. Whether or not it was late nights spent enjoying the Diablo IV marketing campaign with mates from begin to end, gathering your complete household within the rec room for our weekly Guitar Hero evening, or occurring an epic streak in Sweet Crush, a few of my most memorable gaming moments got here from experiences their studios have created. It’s unimaginable to welcome such legendary groups to Xbox.
As one crew, we’ll study, innovate, and proceed to ship on our promise to deliver the enjoyment and neighborhood of gaming to extra folks. We’ll do that in a tradition that strives to empower everybody to do their finest work, the place all persons are welcome, and is centered on our ongoing dedication of Gaming for Everybody. We’re intentional about inclusion in every thing we do at Xbox—from our crew to the merchandise we make and the tales we inform, to the best way our gamers work together and have interaction as a wider gaming neighborhood.
Collectively, we’ll create new worlds and tales, deliver your favourite video games to extra locations so extra gamers can take part, and we’ll have interaction with and delight gamers in new, revolutionary methods within the locations they like to play together with cell, cloud streaming and extra.
Gamers have at all times been on the heart of every thing we do. And as we develop, we’ll proceed to maintain gamers on the coronary heart of all of it. We’ll proceed to take heed to your suggestions, construct a neighborhood the place you might be your self, the place builders can do their finest work, and proceed to make actually enjoyable video games. As promised, we will even proceed to make extra video games accessible in additional locations—and that begins now by enabling cloud streaming suppliers and gamers to stream Activision Blizzard video games within the European Financial Space, a dedication made to the European Fee. As we speak we begin the work to deliver beloved Activision, Blizzard, and King franchises to Sport Go and different platforms. We’ll share extra about when you possibly can count on to play within the coming months. We all know you’re excited—and we’re too.
For the hundreds of thousands of followers who love Activision, Blizzard, and King video games, we wish you to know that as we speak is an effective day to play. You’re the coronary heart and soul of those franchises, and we’re honored to have you ever as a part of our neighborhood. Whether or not you play on Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo, PC, or cell, you might be welcome right here—and can stay welcome, even when Xbox isn’t the place you play your favourite franchise. As a result of when everybody performs, all of us win. We consider our information as we speak will unlock a world of potentialities for extra methods to play. Thanks for the continued help. We’ve a lot extra to come back within the months forward—I’m excited for the long run and can’t wait to share it with you.
—Phil Spencer
Bobby Kotick, Activision Blizzard CEO:
Workforce,
As we speak marks a milestone in our firm’s celebrated historical past.
Combining with Microsoft will deliver new assets and new alternatives to our extraordinary groups worldwide. It would additionally allow us to ship extra enjoyable, extra pleasure, and extra connection to extra gamers than ever earlier than.
This second is feasible due to your efforts over 4 many years to innovate, encourage, and obtain.
When Brian Kelly and I started this journey in 1991, we supposed to construct an organization that might have nice influence and lasting worth. Your tireless work and unwavering dedication to excellence enabled us to do exactly that. Within the Nineteen Eighties, we pioneered impartial, third-party recreation improvement with Pitfall, River Raid, and Kaboom. Within the Nineties, we united the world with on-line multiplayer video games like MechWarrior, Warcraft, and StarCraft. Within the 2000s, we launched Name of Responsibility, which turned some of the profitable leisure franchises in historical past. We additionally launched Guitar Hero and Tony Hawk’s Professional Skater, which entered fashionable tradition in methods few videogames ever have. Within the 2010s, we debuted Sweet Crush Saga, which to this point has been downloaded greater than 5 billion occasions and contributed to our complete worldwide gamers being fifty p.c feminine.
Your dedication is what makes it doable for us to repeatedly push envelopes, break information, and delight gamers. Amid the uncertainty of the final 21 months, you’ve remained targeted, as at all times, on serving our gamers and supporting one another.
I’ve lengthy stated that I’m absolutely dedicated to serving to with the transition. Phil has requested me to remain on as CEO of Activision Blizzard King, reporting to him, and we’ve agreed that I’ll do this via the tip of 2023. We each sit up for working collectively on a easy integration for our groups and gamers.
Brian and I couldn’t be extra excited for the following chapter for Activision Blizzard King. We now be part of some of the profitable world corporations, poised for unprecedented alternatives to attach the world via our video games.
As part of Microsoft, we will likely be even higher, collectively.
—Bobby Kotick