Microsoft to Acquire Game Studio Activision Blizzard for $68.7 Billion

[MacRumors]

Microsoft today announced that it will purchase the game studio Activision Blizzard, the maker of hit games such as Call of Duty, Candy Crush, World of Warcraft, and more, for almost $70 billion. Microsoft says this purchase will help it "bring the joy and community of gaming to everyone, across every device."

The seismic purchase for Microsoft will see several of Activision's games move to Xbox Game Pass, Microsoft's gaming subscription service.

The acquisition also bolsters Microsoft's Game Pass portfolio with plans to launch Activision Blizzard games into Game Pass, which has reached a new milestone of over 25 million subscribers. With Activision Blizzard's nearly 400 million monthly active players in 190 countries and three billion-dollar franchises, this acquisition will make Game Pass one of the most compelling and diverse lineups of gaming content in the industry. Upon close, Microsoft will have 30 internal game development studios, along with additional publishing and esports production capabilities.

Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass is available on the iPhone and iPad through Safari, but not the App Store. While Apple does allow all-in-one gaming subscription services to be on the platform, every game offered on the service must be submitted individually for approval through the App Store review process.

Apple's equivalent games subscription service to Xbox Game Pass is Apple Arcade. Launched in 2019, Apple Arcade has continued to add new games to its catalog for users to play across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. The purchase of Activision and the addition of more hit games to Xbox Game Pass may put more pressure on Apple to bolster ‌Apple Arcade‌'s offerings.

Article Link: Microsoft to Acquire Game Studio Activision Blizzard for $68.7 Billion

 

[maflynn]

Wow, talk about jaw dropping.
They spent a boat load on Bethesda, though I'm not sure this could pass antitrust muster

 

[recklesslife85]

Huge news but nothing to do with apple. Xbox players win here as all games will go to game pass.

 

[moabal]

What is going to happen to future PlayStation titles like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro?

 

[Michael Scrip]

$70 billion!

Remember when $1 billion for Instagram was considered ridiculous?

?

 

[4743913]

Apple keeps missing the boat. There will be no game dev houses left to buy and M1 Max Macbook Pro gamers will be playing nothing but phone games forever. Can anyone seriously compare Apple Arcade to Game Pass and not laugh their ass off?

 

[Madhatter32]

Big win for Microsoft. Shows they are dedicated to gaming and are solidifying its tight grip on the market. It also represents a set back to Apple's pretensions in gaming -- if there were any to begin with.

 

[Instrumentality]

Damn, thats pretty big news.

 

[Isengardtom]

Huge amount

That’s likely also going to be the end of native Mac apps from Blizzard. They usually had a good track record in making native mac games

 

[GalileoSeven]

As long as the PC doesn't get shut out from future releases, this is whatever (don't have an XBox or any other consoles). ?‍♂️

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Wow! This is a big sale. Huge win for Microsoft. Congratulations!

 

[User 6502]

What is going to happen to future PlayStation titles like Crash Bandicoot and Spyro?

We can be quite sure they there won’t be future crash bandicoot or spurò games on the PlayStation. They’re likely to become Xbox/PC exclusives.

 

[jinnyman]

Microsoft keeps acquiring studios. They really know gamings and streamers are next generation of big things.
What is Apple doing? Apple TV? not doing anything at all in gaming? start acquiring AAA studios and come up with a console.

 

[MRU]

Makes the $12b for Bethesda seem like small change. Great news for Xbox/Microsoft GamePass Ultimate customers and likely a response to the news that Sony are readying their own gamepass alternative which will make their offering very anaemic third party wise.

 

[maflynn]

Huge news but nothing to do with apple. Xbox players win here as all games will go to game pass.

When MS bought Besthesda. I switched from Playstation to Xbox for that very reason

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Microsoft keeps acquiring studios. They really know gamings and streamers are next generation of big things.
What is Apple doing? Apple TV? not doing anything at all in gaming? start acquiring AAA studios and come up with a console.

Microsoft knows the gaming industry. They are dominating it. Look at the world-class games that are included in this deal. Apple really needs to catch up and get serious.

 

[RoboCop001]

We can be quite sure they there won’t be future crash bandicoot or spurò games on the PlayStation. They’re likely to become Xbox/PC exclusives.

Ugh that's going to suck. CB is one of my favourites and I loved the new one. ... man, those commercials with the Crash mascot in the 90s were pure gold lol

 

[CJM]

Holy moly, I thought this was an April Fool's joke. Never would have imagined this one happening.

 

[recklesslife85]

When MS bought Besthesda. I switched from Playstation to Xbox for that very reason

Smart decision. ?

 

[Michael Scrip]

We can be quite sure they there won’t be future crash bandicoot or spurò games on the PlayStation. They’re likely to become Xbox/PC exclusives.

While I understand that concept at first glance... I have a question.

Why would a studio/publisher want to cut their addressable market in half?

Actually it's more than half... since there are more Playstations out in the world than XBoxen.

?

 

[Isengardtom]

Microsoft knows the gaming industry. They are dominating it. Look at the world-class games that are included in this deal. Apple really needs to catch up and get serious.

I Know that mobile gaming is often laughed at by “real gamers” but that’s where a lot of the money is. I think apple knows this all too well.

 

[jinnyman]

When MS bought Besthesda. I switched from Playstation to Xbox for that very reason

Can't wait to play Starfield when it comes out! X-Box game pass with Wow in it. Man Microsoft really knows how.

 

[laptech]

Question now is, will Microsoft prevent Blizzard games from appearing on PS5, Nintendo Switch and Mac computers because Microsoft will want to make sure it's own console is supported first and foremost.

 

[DelayedGratificationGene]

Wow that’s a lot of moola…

 

[44267547]

When MS bought Besthesda. I switched from Playstation to Xbox for that very reason

You went to the dark side? How dare you.😁