Microsoft Game Business CEO: optimistic about Activision Blizzard acquisition review process

CTOnews.com August 24 news, in January this year, Microsoft announced that it will buy game development and interactive entertainment content publisher Activision Blizzard for $95 per share, the total transaction price reached $68.7 billion, the transaction is expected to close in fiscal year 2023. It would be the most expensive acquisition Microsoft has ever traded for.

After the deal is completed, many IPs, including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch and Old Wolf, will become part of Microsoft Xbox.

Activision's acquisition would make Microsoft the third-largest gaming company by global revenue, behind Tencent and Sony. Upon completion, Microsoft will have 30 in-house game development studios as well as additional esports organization capabilities.

Bloomberg spoke to Phil Spencer, CEO of Microsoft's games business, who said it "feels good" about Microsoft's nearly $70 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard,"I've never done a $70 billion deal, so I don't know what my confidence means. I would say that the discussions we had seemed positive."

Spencer promised to have Activision Blizzard's Call of Duty series available on rival Sony's PlayStation platform for at least a while. The idea of making exclusive games for a particular device "is going to get rarer and rarer in the future," he says.

He also revealed that while Microsoft is focused on acquiring Activision Blizzard, it is still looking for more content, whether through investment in new games, partnerships or further deals.