So this one, you had to be damn strong to see it coming. Microsoft is about to buy Activision Blizzard. The transaction is already at an advanced stage, since Phil Spencer and others have already announced it on their official website. A purchase that would turn around $70 billion.
Inevitably, a lot of reactions to the magnitude of such a takeover. We are not talking here about yet another studio joining the Windows team. Activision Blizzard, even weakened by recent scandals, remains one of the most influential groups in the world of video games. On this subject, Microsoft’s press release states that once the transaction is concluded, Activision Blizzard will have to respond to Phil Spencer. Bobby Kotick will remain until the CEO of AB, but his role should only be for show.
This takeover should also be followed by many internal movements for a company often defined as rotten from the inside. We can also read on the announcement that “ Microsoft is committed to its fight for the inclusion of all aspects of video games, for its employees and its players. We deeply respect the cultures of individual studios. We also believe that creative success and autonomy go hand in hand with treating each person with dignity and respect. » Suffice to say that we should not be surprised to see a wave of departures among AB’s senior executives in the coming years.
Because yes, such a redemption will take time. And according to Bobby Kotick himself, it should not be effective before fiscal year 2023. So between July 2022 (unlikely) and June 2023 (already more).
Welcome to the Game Pass ogre
All Activision Blizzard studios are affected by this acquisition. This ranges from Treyarch to Raven Sofware, via Blizzard Entertainment and King. Microsoft also wants to offer as many games from the catalog as possible on the Game Pass, which today points to 25 million subscribers. So expect to see Overwatch, Diablo, Call of Duty and others.
Once the excitement has passed, it will take five minutes to reflect on what it means for the video game industry. Is it healthy that a few giants (Microsoft, Tencent) share the overwhelming majority of the landscape? Certainly not. Will this continue? Yes. Because there won’t be much to stop them.