Xbox has just officially announced the purchase of Activision Blizzard in a statement that many gamers have been waiting for quite some time. This acquisition, which marks the end of a long journey, as Phill Spencer points out, represents the beginning of one of the most important mergers ever generated within the video game and entertainment industry in general. Here’s what this acquisition means for Xbox and what you can expect going forward if you are a fan of these legendary franchises.
Today is a good day to play – Xbox
“So this is our home now?” is the question that begins the trailer that demonstrates how important this alliance between Microsoft’s video game division and legendary IP creator Activision Blizzard King is. The announcement follows the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ruling a few hours ago approving the acquisition agreement between the two parties. This meant that the biggest soap opera in the videogame industry had come to an end and that the road was more than cleared for this important news to be delivered as the hours went by.
Evidently, this decision was greeted by the highest echelons of both companies, which did not hesitate to praise the positive ruling. “We have finally cleared the last regulatory hurdle to close this acquisition, which we believe will benefit gamers and the gaming industry worldwide,” said Microsoft president Brad Smith via X (formerly Twitter) minutes after the ruling. Bobby Kotick did the same in an email sent to his employees: “We are excited about our next chapter with Microsoft and the endless possibilities we will create for all of you.
But what exactly has Xbox achieved with this purchase? is what many will be wondering. The answer to this could be summed up in one word: Too much.
Activision Blizzard King is a company that moves millions of dollars annually thanks to the amount of recognizable IP’s it has and the services it offers to different companies around the world. In fact, the list of developers with which it counts is vast, highlighting among them the following studios:
- Activision Publishing (Tony Hawk, Pitfall!).
- Blizzard Entertainment (Diablo, StarCraft, Warcraft, Overwatch).
- Beenox (Guitar Hero, Skylanders).
- High Moon Studios (Transformers, Deadpool).
- Infinity Ward (Call of Duty: Modern Warfare).
- King (Candy Crush).
- Radical Entertainment (Prototype, The Simpsons: Hit & Run).
- Raven Software (Soldier of Fortune, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance).
- Sledgehammer Games (Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare).
- Toys for Bob (Crash Bandicoot 4, Spyro Reignited Trilogy).
- Treyarch (Call of Duty: Black Ops).
As was to be expected, the last to speak out about this event was Phill Spencer, CEO of Xbox, who did not hide his excitement at being in charge of what for him are franchises of a priceless character and of a very special value:
I have long admired the work of Activision, Blizzard and King; and their impact within video games and pop culture. Whether it’s late nights spent playing the Diablo IV campaign or an afternoon with my family playing Guitar Hero, many of my best gaming moments come from the experiences their studios have created. That’s why it’s incredible to welcome such legendary teams to the Xbox family.
He then pledged to expand these franchises to the entire community “regardless of whether you play on PlayStation, Nintendo, PC or mobile devices”. He also assured that they have already started working on bringing Activision, Blizzard and King titles to Game Pass and other platforms in order to unite communities in an amalgam of innovation and new ways to play.
There is no doubt that we are facing a change that will mean the beginning of a new era for the Xbox brand and the community it has been building since its debut in 2001. The number of titles that will come to strengthen the platform is gigantic and if we add to that the infrastructure and studios it already has, we can foresee a bright future for an ecosystem that has not ceased to struggle in its quest to catch up with the already established PlayStation and Nintendo. All this without forgetting the philosophy that…
When everyone plays, everyone wins.
